German placed on IL with hip flexor

CLEVELAND — There’s a valid reason for Domingo German’s recent struggles.

The New York Yankees placed the right-hander on the injured list with a left hip flexor, an injury that has bothered him for a few weeks but he didn’t disclose to the team until Saturday.

German became the 19th Yankees player on the IL this season, one shy of last year’s total for the entire season.

He has an 8.59 ERA in his past three starts, a span in which he has given up seven homers in 14 2⁄3 innings. He was touched for two homers, including a two-run, tiebreaker by Carlos Santana in the sixth inning Friday in a 5-2 loss that denied German his 10th win.

“The first I heard of it was yesterday after he got done playing catch here,” said manager Aaron Bone, adding German said he initially felt discomfort during a start in Kansas City on May 26.

In that game, German gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings — his worst start by far this season.

Boone said he wasn’t mad at German for keeping his injury private.

“It’s hard to know what level of discomfort he’s in,” Boone said. “We always want our players to treat any (medical) issues, but in major league sports, there are things that you deal with every day when you go out there. I understand that.”

Boone said the righthander will undergo an MRI on Monday.

“We’ll see what they say and hope it’s something minor,” Boone said.

German is 0-1 with two no-decisions in his past three starts. Prior to that, he was 9-1 with a 2.60 ERA.

To take his spot on the roster, the Yankees recalled left-hander Stephen Tarpley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

German’s injury is another blow to the Yankees, who have been ravaged all season by injuries. In addition to being without slugging stars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, New York’s pitching staff is minus starter Luis Severino (shoulder), reliever Dellin Betances (shoulder).