Yankees’ Fernando Cruz likely to return for Nationals series

A still-battered Yankees bullpen is set to receive another shot in the arm Monday.

Fernando Cruz is expected to be activated off the injured list in time to begin a series against the Nationals after missing nearly two months with a high-grade oblique strain.

Manager Aaron Boone on Saturday left the door open for Cruz to be activated Sunday, but the Yankees waited to make a move after the right-hander threw 1 ¹/₃ innings in his fourth rehab game Friday.

“Obviously, he’s been super productive for us down there and such an important part of that pen when he’s been healthy,” Boone said before the Yanks’ 7-2 win in the series finale against the Red Sox. “And he’s just a great person and competitor and guy to be on the team; takes the ball in any scenario. I am looking forward to getting him back.”

Before going on the IL for the second time this season — he missed 15 days in late May with right shoulder inflammation — Cruz pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 33 innings, most of them high-leverage outings.

The Yankees bullpen has largely struggled in Cruz’s absence — entering Sunday with a 5.58 ERA since Cruz went on the IL, the second-worst mark in the majors during that span — even after adding reinforcements at the deadline in David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird (who is now at Triple-A).

But Cruz’s return should give Boone another late-inning option in his circle of trust as the Yankees head down the homestretch.

In the meantime, Paul Blackburn remained on the roster Sunday despite being unavailable after throwing 71 pitches in mop-up duty Saturday.

Jasson Domínguez was out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last six games in order to get Giancarlo Stanton’s bat — which went 2-for-3 with a double — into the lineup in right field.

Cody Bellinger manned left field with Trent Grisham in center, where he was starting for the 17th straight game and slugged two more homers.

Austin Slater (hamstring strain) did some running in the outfield and on the bases Sunday afternoon as he tries to work back toward a September return.

Boone did not have a time table for when the outfielder might advance to a rehab assignment, or at least taking live batting practice.