Cashman says Stanton likely out until September

Giancarlo Stanton, who has been out since spraining his right knee June 25, hasn’t begun baseball activities and won’t be back from the injured list anytime soon.

“Probably looking like September,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said in a text before the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Red Sox in The Bronx on Friday night.

The return of Brett Gardner from the IL helped give the Yankees more outfield depth. He’d been out with a sore left knee since leaving a game on July 20.

Gardner doesn’t expect his knee to be an issue and Aaron Boone has no plans currently to cut back his playing time to protect it.

“Not necessarily,’’ Boone said. “He did it on a play. There’s gonna be days off here and there.”

Boone noted that Cameron Maybin was also back to go along with Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and the continually productive Mike Tauchman.

“I view him as physically good to go,’’ Boone said of Gardner, who took Tyler Wade’s spot on the roster, with the infielder optioned to Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre.

The same can’t be said of Stanton, who also missed 68 games with a torn left biceps and had a cortisone shot in his left shoulder prior to the knee injury, which he suffered on an awkward slide.

➤ Gary Sanchez (strained groin) is eligible to come off the IL on Saturday. Sanchez said through an interpreter Friday he “feels good” and has been going through hitting and catching drills. Boone, however, said his starting catcher won’t be activated for Saturday’s doubleheader. Sanchez is expected to run the bases on Saturday as he nears his return.

➤ DJ LeMahieu returned after missing four games with a tight groin and had two hits. … Aaron Hicks went 0-for-4, now hitless in 17 straight atbats.

➤ Domingo German will start the first game in Saturday’s doubleheader and the Yankees could use an opener in the second game.

It would figure to be Chad Green, if he’s not needed in the first game.