STARTER STRICKEN

Yanks need another pitcher big-time

CLEVELAND – The Yankees obviously need at least one starter.

But after a night like Friday, it makes you reconsider they might actually need two. Domingo German couldn’t command his fastball, issued too many free passes and got burned early as a result in the Bombers’ 6-5 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. After his four-plus inning, six-run, four-walk performance, German’s ERA sits at 5.49.

Couple that with Masahiro Tanaka’s home run problem and Sonny Gray’s issues when facing quality opponents, and the need for more rotation depth behind Luis Severino and CC Sabathia becomes even greater.

“I tried to be aggressive tonight using my fastball, and I wasn’t commanding my fastball at all,” German said. “I gave up all those free passes and I wasn’t effective.”

German’s swing-and-miss stuff could make him a nice weapon out of the bullpen, but as a starter he’s been too up-and-down, and his problems in the first and second innings continued, when he gave up four runs combined.

The problem, of course, is that many potential second-tier starter trade targets have struggled, too.

J.A. Happ allowed a grand slam to Mookie Betts in an epic, 13-pitch at-bat Thursday at Fenway Park, while Nathan Eovaldi got shelled in Minnesota on Friday, giving up eight runs while failing to get out of the third inning.

The only good thing about that: Maybe their prices will go down as a result.

Michael Fulmer has pitched better of late for Detroit, but given that he’s still young and under team control for a while, the price could be more significant than it would be otherwise.

But that’s a price Brian Cashman may have to meet with real difference-makers like Jacob deGrom and Blake Snell most likely not coming to The Bronx.

Justus Sheffield, the team’s top pitching prospect, deserves his shot more and more every day when fill-ins like German can’t get deep into games, taxing the bullpen as a result.

It’s made Aaron Boone’s job harder, too, even though the manager wouldn’t admit as much when this one was over. Boone was burned again for sticking with German too long, as the Indians tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth that made the difference in the end.

At least the Red Sox finally lost, their win streak over at 10. But the Bombers couldn’t make up any ground despite having a chance to do so.

They were down 6-4 with one out in the eighth when Aaron Hicks struck out on a 3-2 pitch and Aaron Judge was thrown out trying to steal second on a close play, the twin-killing ending the inning with Giancarlo Stanton on deck.

It was certainly a questionable call by Boone. Even he agreed.

“I felt like the matchup with (pitcher Neil Ramirez) being slow to the plate, I was betting on a pitch in the zone being put in play (by Hicks) but definitely something I second-guessed a little bit,” Boone said. “It was a close call.”

Stanton, of course, homered leading off the ninth against Cody Allen, giving the Yankees life.

Greg Bird then singled, but the always aggressive Miguel Andujar inexplicably swung at Allen’s first pitch and grounded into a 6-4-3 doubleplay. Neil Walker walked, but Didi Gregorius popped out to end it.

Manny Machado would be the ultimate prize -- especially if he somehow falls into their laps -- but the Bombers continue to be plagued by starting pitching woes. And with Aroldis Chapman smartly skipping the All-Star Game in order to rest his knee, they could use another reliever as well.

Chapman is likely going to be plagued by left knee tendinitis as well, making the likes of Zach Britton and Brad Hand attractive, as both elite setup guys and protection in case Chapman has to miss time.

“I think hopefully he can benefit from that,” Boone said before the game of Chapman making the decision to take the break to rest. “To have 4-5 days potentially off certainly can’t hurt him. It’s obviously something that he’s been dealing with for a while. But we also feel good that he can continue to maintain it throughout the season, and it’s something we’ll continue to monitor all the time.”

Machado could make the team better offensively and defensively. And a super bullpen would be a nice luxury as well. And, of course, it would be great if they could get a starter, really two, and sooner rather than later.