Boone: Red-hot Gittens ‘very much on our radar’

DETROIT — Miguel Andujar got the start at first base on Sunday, and Mike Ford and DJ LeMahieu will also get time there with Luke Voit on the IL with a strained oblique and expected to miss “at least a few weeks,” according to Aaron Boone.

But Boone acknowledged before a 6-2 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park that Chris Gittens is “very much on our radar” as he continues to slug at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 27-year-old Gittens missed time recently after the birth of his child, but he’s back with SWB and has a 1.098 OPS in 14 games this season.

He’s not on the 40-man roster, but the Yankees could put Corey Kluber on the 60-day IL to open a spot, but Boone said there were no plans to make that move at this point.

“He’s swinging the bat really well to start the season,’’ Boone said of Gittens. “It follows up what he’s done the last couple seasons and he had a strong spring training with us.”

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Gittens has displayed serious power, rivaling Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge when it comes to exit velocity, but he still has just 56 plate appearances above Double-A.

The Yankees have gotten very little production out of first base this season. After trying Jay Bruce to open the season, when Voit was recovering from knee surgery, Ford has also been unproductive and Voit never found his rhythm before going down with the oblique injury.

With many veteran players on minor league deals that include June 1 opt-outs, the Yankees could see some players become available that might provide them with slight upgrades.

Estevan Florial is another possible consideration, since he’s on the 40-man roster and could be called up from SWB to play center field, where the Yankees used Tyler Wade to fill in for Brett Gardner.

➤ Kluber is still gathering information about his shoulder strain that landed him on the IL. The righthander has had multiple MRI exams after being diagnosed and he’s expected to not pick up a ball for at least four weeks.

Boone said he hopes to have more information regarding Kluber’s status by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Pitching coach Matt Blake said Sunday the team tried to “slow play” Kluber back into action after he pitched just one inning last season before being sidelined by a different shoulder injury.

Luis Severino’s return from last year’s Tommy John surgery should come into focus soon, as well.

The right-hander could begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Tampa as soon as next weekend.