Happ still has shot to go vs. Sox

J.A. Happ remained away from the Yankees on Wednesday while he recovers from hand, foot and mouth disease, but manager Aaron Boone remained hopeful the lefty would be able to make his scheduled start against the Red Sox on Saturday.

“We’ll keep evaluating it every 12, 24 hours,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 7-5 loss to the Orioles in The Bronx. “I’m still optimistic that he’ll be able to pitch Saturday for us, but I think that will be a lot clearer over the next 24 hours.”

The Yankees reportedly called up Luis Cessa after Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre’s game Wednesday, because the righthander is the next logical choice to start Saturday at Fenway if Happ is unable to go.

The Yankees limited Cessa to one inning in his start for SWB on Tuesday to make sure he was available for Saturday’s game. And, because Lance Lynn was needed for 4 / innings in Wednesday’s loss at the Stadium, he’s no longer an option if Happ isn’t cleared medically.

Boone said he talked to Happ on Wednesday morning and that the 35-year-old sounded better.

“He’s hoping it kind of peaked [Tuesday] night,” Boone said. “But, again, we’ll let the doctor examine him and see where he’s at.”

Happ was excellent in his debut with the Yankees on Sunday, limiting the Royals to one run in six innings.

The Yankees also appeared set to call up Luke Voit, the slugging first baseman they acquired over the weekend from St. Louis in exchange for lefty Chasen Shreve, according to the Times Leader of Scranton.

The Yankees spent much of the trade deadline acquiring international pool money and after signing Cuban right-hander Osiel Rodriguez to a $600,000 deal, they spent a reported $2.5 million to add 16-year-old shortstop Alexander Vargas — also from Cuba.

The switch-hitting Vargas has impressed with his speed and his glove. As a comparison, Gary Sanchez signed for $3 million in 2009.

They also signed outfielder Kevin Alcantara, 16, to a $1 million deal last month.