Gerrit Cole won’t pitch in the Subway Series, but the bullpen session he’s scheduled to throw at Citi Field on Saturday will go a long way toward determining when the right-hander, who left his start Tuesday with hamstring tightness, will be able to take the mound again.
Cole said he’s “feeling strong” in his recovery.
If Saturday goes well, Cole would figure to start either Monday against the Twins or Tuesday at Baltimore.
He insisted he’s not too alarmed by the injury, adding it’s something he has experienced previously and knows how to deal with.
“There’s no season I’ve pitched and not had to go through it,’’ Cole said prior to the Mets’ 10-3 win over the Yankees on Friday at Citi Field. “I haven’t had anything to make me apprehensive to move.”
Because the Yankees suddenly find themselves with no margin for error, Cole said he was especially cautious with the injury because he wants to be available for the final weeks of the regular season.
“That was the thought of why I wanted to make sure I feel [good] now and why I made the move,’’ Cole said. “The stretch run is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.”
Manager Aaron Boone said Jameson Taillon spent Friday at the Stadium rehabbing his injured ankle, as the Yankees remain cautiously optimistic he’ll only miss one start.
As of Friday, the Yankees don’t have a starter for Sunday’s game, but they could turn to Clarke Schmidt. The right-hander was sidelined by a strained elbow during spring training and was scheduled to start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, but was scratched on Friday night.
Boone said Schmidt “could be here in some role for us” by Sunday.
Deivi Garcia, with the Yankees on the taxi squad Thursday in The Bronx, started at Triple-A Friday and allowed one run in five innings in one of his best outings of a disappointing season.
To bolster the pitching staff, Michael King was activated off the 60-day IL after missing over two months with a finger injury. The right-hander came in to start the bottom of the fourth of Friday’s loss and threw 45 pitches in three innings.
To make room for King, Sal Romano was designated for assignment a day after he was used in the seventh inning of a tie game against the Blue Jays. With the Yankees’ bullpen overworked, Romano allowed the go-ahead run.
The rotation uncertainty only adds to the bullpen woes. The taxed relief corps, which is without the injured Zack Britton and Jonathan Loaisiaga, has relied heavily on Wandy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Lucas Luetge and Chad Green — while trying to fix Aroldis Chapman, who’s struggled with his delivery.
With no DH at Citi Field, Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t in Friday’s lineup, as Boone opted to play him on defense in just two of the three games.
“It made sense personnel-wise [to play him] Saturday and Sunday,’’ Boone said of using Stanton, who has fared well in the outfield this season.
It also kept Luke Voit on the bench, with Anthony Rizzo at first base. Voit had a pinch-hit single when the game was out of reach in the eighth. Rizzo homered in the ninth.
“Especially now, as we’re much more whole and healthy, I hate not having the DH, but that’s part of it,’’ the manager said. “We’ve got two big bats to fire over there [on the bench].”
Gleyber Torres remained in the lineup at shortstop for a second straight game after sitting for two games following poor games in the field.
“We’ve talked about it a lot,’’ Boone said of conversations he has had with Torres about his play. “He understands how important he is to this team and him playing the way he’s capable of is important.”
Torres made another error Friday on what Boone called “a tailor-made double play.”
Boone added Torres was “probably a little bit of trying too hard in that spot.”
Joey Gallo homered in the second inning and has gone deep in all three games he has played at Citi Field. He also hit home runs in Queens on Aug. 8-9, 2017 while with the Rangers.