Giancarlo may be ready to go today

Giancarlo Stanton could be back in the Yankee lineup as soon as today. The Yankees slugger has been out since June 25 with a right knee sprain.

“We’ll talk about that tonight with the trainers and with Giancarlo. I’d say there’s a chance he could be activated tomorrow,” Aaron Boone said before Tuesday night’s victory. “Otherwise I would certainly expect Thursday. We’ll sort that all out tonight.”

With the season-ending injury to Mike Tauchman, who strained his calf last weekend in Boston, and Aaron Hicks now likely to miss the rest of the season with a right elbow injury, Stanton’s return was important. With sluggers Gary Sanchez (strained groin) and Edwin Encarnacion (strained oblique) now also going to miss time, the Yankees really need Stanton’s bat to be ready when he returns.

HAPP ON SCHEDULE

J.A. Happ has thrown twice since receiving a cortisone shot to address the tendinitis in his biceps, at the base of his left shoulder. The veteran lefty said he felt good after each session and feels he can pitch through this.

“I think it’s helped a little bit for sure,” Happ said.

Boone later confirmed that Happ will start on Thursday without any restrictions.

Happ said after his last start, Thursday in Detroit, that he had been pitching with the discomfort for almost a month. Ironically, that includes the best stretch of the year for him.

ENCARNACION EDGING BACK

Edwin Encarnacion told reporters at Monday night’s CC Sabathia retirement dinner that he expects to be back before the end of the regular season. The designated hitter strained his oblique last week, but it is very mild, according to the team.

SANCHEZ UPDATE

Gary Sanchez is still getting treatment on his strained groin. The catcher suffered the strain attempting to steal second base last Thursday, but the Yankees remain hopeful he will return this season.