Day off cuts both ways for surging Bombers

HOUSTON — A break in the postseason schedule has been a friend to the Yankees twice this October.

Now, it might hurt their chances of getting to the World Series for the first time since 2009.

When the Yankees went down 0-2 to the Indians on the road in the ALDS they were idle between Games 2 and 3 as the series shifted to the Stadium. The Yankees rebounded to win their two home games to get even and, after another day off, beat the Indians in Cleveland to advance to the ALCS.

After starting the ALCS with two losses in Houston, the Yankees had a day off and reeled off three straight wins in The Bronx to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven affair.

Wednesday night’s 5-0 gem put them one win away from the World Series, but the momentum was stalled by Thursday being an off day in front of Friday night’s Game 6 at Minute Maid Park.

“I think probably everyone would have probably rather played [Thursday]. We understand it. We’ve been on both sides,’’ Joe Girardi said on a conference call before the Yan- kees flew here Thursday afternoon. “It’s probably good for our bullpen to have a day off. We rely on them heavily. We got seven great innings out of [Masahiro] Tanaka [Wednesday], and used Tommy [Kahnle], but it allows us to probably use Tommy [Friday] if we need him. The day off will definitely help our bullpen and I think physically it helps the player. But when you’re on a roll you never want to stop playing.’’

Informed of Girardi’s comments about when going good teams don’t want a break, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said, “I feel horrible for him.’’

No matter how many times Girardi is asked about the struggling Dellin Betances, the manager never strays from his answer.

Girardi hoped t hat Betances could have gotten straightened out in Game 3 when brought into the ninth inning against the Astros with an 8-1 lead. Instead, Betances walked the only two batters he faced and was replaced by Tommy Kahnle.

“With the magnitude of the games, you can’t allow sometimes a player to work through something where you might let him do it during the course of the season. You might give him a little more rope,’’ Girardi said.