Kahnle is nearing his return

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Yankees could get Tommy Kahnle back when their roadtrip ends. Kahnle (shoulder), who hasn’t pitched since April 12, will pitch for Class A Charleston on Monday night. “He’s getting really close,” Aaron Boone said. “I don’t think he’ll join us here but there’s a really good chance after the off day (Thursday). I think he’ll throw today with the idea he’ll pitch again on Wednesday and then there’s a good chance he’ll be back with us Friday.”

Greg Bird (ankle) and Billy McKinney (shoulder) both played with Triple-A Scranton for the first time on Monday in Pawtucket. Bird blasted a homer in his first at-bat.

“They’re both playing and obviously getting a lot closer,” Boone said. “So a decision will be coming down there maybe a week from now. We’ll just keep monitoring Birdie to see where he’s at and the right time to bring him back up.”

Boone had said Bird could be back as early as this week, but based on that answer you wonder if the Astros’ series May 28-30 is more realistic. Bird has been out since undergoing right ankle surgery on March 27.

Said Boone of Adam Warren (back): “He’s been in some sim games. He’s still in Tampa. Obviously he’s a little behind Tommy but there’s a chance at some point probably the following week that he could start to factor in.”

Boone also said Jordan Montgomery (elbow) is looking to start a throwing program soon but hasn’t played catch yet.

Didi Gregorius, in a 1-for-45 slump, returned to the lineup following a two-day benching/mental break and hit cleanup. He went 1-for-5 with an RBI double and two strikeouts.

Neil Walker started for the first time this season at third base, with Miguel Andujar getting the day off. Walker had two hits including his first homer as a Yankee and an RBI double.

JAPANESE ACES

Japanese baseball fans could see a dream matchup Sunday, with Masahiro Tanaka lining up to face phenom Shohei Ohtani at Yankee Stadium.

“Wow, I hadn’t even thought about that. I do play them one at a time,” Boone said. “That would be pretty cool. Obviously Ohtani has really burst on the scene as one of the talks of baseball, with what he’s done and been able to do on both sides of the ball. I’m sure there will be a little extra buzz if it was Ohtani vs. Masa. If that happens, it’ll be fun to be a part of.”

FOR OPENERS

Boone was also asked about the Rays using reliever Sergio Romo as a starter two days in a row and whether he’d ever use that strategy.

“A little outside of the box, obviously, but I think it made some sense,” Boone said. Would the Yankees manager try it? “I never say never down the road because you never know what your roster looks like, but I can’t ever see that with the way our roster is constructed right now,” Boone said .... Giovanny Gallegos came up as the 13th pitcher from Triple-A Scranton with Clint Frazier going back down to the minors. Frazier homered for the RailRiders on Monday.