Ryan Yarbrough back for Yankees after injury in pitching boost

HOUSTON — Two years ago, the Yankees arrived here with two hotshot prospects as Sept. 1 call-ups in Jasson Domínguez and Austin Wells.

This time around, their promotions are not as flashy, though they should be impactful for the final month of their playoff push.

Ryan Yarbrough was activated from the injured list Monday ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Astros, giving the Yankees a second lefty out of the bullpen alongside Tim Hill and one who can provide length.

J.C. Escarra was also called up from Triple-A to temporarily fill the extra position player spot as Austin Slater finishes off a rehab assignment.

Slater is expected to play another game at Triple-A on Tuesday before he could be ready to come off the IL.

Yarbrough had moved into the rotation and pitched well before landing on the IL in June, but the crafty veteran will return as a reliever with the ability to pitch multiple innings, though Aaron Boone could also use him in a high-leverage spot against lefties.

“He was huge for us in whatever role,” Boone said. “He was really a valuable part of our pitching staff and excited to get him back.”

Slater, meanwhile, will give Boone another option to hit left-handers alongside Amed Rosario, with the Yankees bringing both players in at the trade deadline to help give them better versatility off the bench.

“We’re so much more flexible and so much more able to maneuver on the bench now and gain matchups,” Boone said. “Austin’s one of those guys. Him and Rosario coming in, the success they’ve had against left-handed pitching, just gives us another added dimension and more depth from a position player standpoint.”

After getting hit around on his rehab assignment and then knocking off some rust in his first game back, Fernando Cruz looks like himself again.

The reliever got five outs Sunday, including an inning-ending double play after relieving Luis Gil, to give him three scoreless outings during the White Sox series.

“He looks really good,” Boone said. “Another strong [five]-out performance [Sunday] where he was in the zone, getting ahead and then when he gets ahead of you, you’re in some trouble.”

Boone made a quick pit stop on the way to Houston, flying to North Carolina to be in Chapel Hill on Monday night for the UNC football opener against TCU.

One of Boone’s sons, Brandon, is a student assistant on Bill Belichick’s staff.