Kluber’s return in time for Yanks’ stretch run

OAKLAND, Calif. — Corey Kluber will make his longawaited return to the rotation Monday against the Angels in Anaheim as the Yankees try to determine a pitching plan for their stretch run.

“It’s something we’re starting to work through,’’ Aaron Boone said of the Yankees’ upcoming 20games-in-20-days stretch that begins following Thursday’s off day.

The Yankees might go with a sixth starter once or twice during the stretch, but they’ll also want to determine the best way to construct their pitching staff during that time.

Kluber is taking Andrew Heaney’s spot — at least for now — while Domingo German (shoulder) and Luis Severino (shoulder) are just starting to play catch, meaning they are a ways off from being potential options as starters.

The rotation has thrived lately despite the injuries, with Gerrit Cole continuing his superb season after being sidelined by COVID-19 and Jameson Taillon coming on strong after a rough start to his Yankee tenure.

Jordan Montgomery — Sunday’s starter — has been mostly excellent for the last month and Nestor Cortes Jr. has also been solid.

Luis Gil pitched 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and allowed three runs — striking out seven — as the Yankees try to keep his workload up while he’s without a spot in the majors.

Kluber will remain a question mark for the rest of the season due to the shoulder injuries that have sidelined him for significant portions of each of the past two seasons.

He’s not fully built up as a starter heading into Monday’s game against the Angels, but the right-hander said he’s been encouraged by how he’s felt and how his pitches have looked during his rehab outings.

“The health side of it, with the way I’ve felt out there and bouncing back, it puts your mind at ease that the injury isn’t an issue anymore,’’ Kluber said. “Then it’s going out there and executing pitches to different parts of the strike zone.”