Britton expects call this time

Zach Britton didn’t pitch the last time his team was in a wild-card game, when Baltimore manager Buck Showalter famously left him in the bullpen, using seven different pitchers, waiting for a lead against the Blue Jays that never came.

“I don’t think that will be the case [Wednesday] night,’’ Britton said on the eve of the Yankees’ wild-card game against the A’s in The Bronx. “I would doubt it.”

Britton picked up saves in two of his final five appearances as Aroldis Chapman came back from knee tendinitis, and Chapman could be called upon as the closer on Wednesday. But for now, Britton is just happy to be back in the postseason.

It’s something Britton didn’t envision when he ruptured his Achilles while doing agility drills in December.

The ensuing surgery could have sidelined for up to a year, but Britton managed to pitch in a minor league rehab game by the end of May and then showed enough in 16 appearances with the Orioles to convince the Yankees to trade for him before the non-waiver trade deadline.

“If you had told me in December after the surgery I’d finish the year pitching like myself and getting a chance to pitch in the postseason, I would have looked at you like you were an idiot, just based on the time frame,’’ Britton said Tuesday before the Yankees worked out at the Stadium.

Stephen Tarpley, a fellow Scott Boras client, was with Britton when he went down.

“I didn’t know how bad it was and was about to make a joke,” the rookie left-hander said. “Then I saw it really hurt. I’d known him since I was in the Orioles’ organization. It sucked.”

Britton initially struggled to get his command back, particularly of his devastating sinker, but he’s been at his best the last month.

“To pitch well enough to be traded and for a team to want me to possibly pitch in the postseason and finish strong on a good stretch, I look back and it’s one of the best scenarios,’’ Britton said. “There were so many unknowns after surgery.”

Now, the 30- year-old believes there may have been some benefits to having missed time during the winter and spring.

“Arm-wise, I can’t tell you how great my arm feels compared to any other year since I’ve been in the majors,’’ Britton said. “Maybe when I was 18 in the minors. I think the time off and wasn’t able to work out and I just rested helped.”

Britt on admits his leg strength isn’t yet back to where it was before the injury and that impacts his velocity on certain pitches.

He didn’t allow an earned run in his final 10 outings, although he walked three batters in his last appearance against the Red Sox.

“Sometimes I don’t have that little extra on a pitch when I’m looking for it,’’ Britton said. “My average velocity isn’t as bad as I thought it was gonna be — and it’s all about getting movement on your pitches, as I’ve found out this year.”