Yankees Notebook: Jameson Taillon to start against Blue Jays, Loaisiga closer to regular season return

BOSTON — Jameson Taillon will be back in the starting rotation before the end of the season. The right-hander, who went on the injured list with a partially torn tendon in his right ankle Sept. 9, is expected to start next week in the series against the Blue Jays.

“He’s with us now. He was successful (in his minor league rehab start). I think he threw 50 pitches the other day,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So we’re going to get through today and kind of talk through that tonight. But a good chance he starts one of the games in Toronto.”

Taillon has been one of the Yankees’ better starters during the second half of the season, going 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA after a slow start. Coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Taillon went 4-4 with a 4.90 ERA in the first 17 games he pitched for the Yankees.

LOAISIGA RETURNING

Jonathan Loaisiga was playing long toss on the field at Fenway before Friday night’s series opener against the Red Sox. The right-hander is in a race to return from the right shoulder strain that put him on the injured list Sept. 5 in time to help bolster the Bombers bullpen.

Boone was cautiously optimistic Loaisiga could be back soon.

“We’ll see how he comes out of that. He’ll probably have another (bullpen) Sunday or Monday, I would think and then potentially be in play, or do we need to get him a live outing,” Boone said. “We’ll see how it responds to this bullpen. And if we do another one, and then go, we’ll just kind of see how the next few days unfold for him and how he recovers.”

SEVERINO SETTLING IN

Luis Severino was expected to be available out of the bullpen Friday night on two days rest. The right-hander made his first appearance in a big league game in 707 days on Tuesday. Coming off March 2020 Tommy John surgery and several setbacks, Severino pitched two scoreless innings against the Rangers.

“Obviously, we’ll check with them after the catch play and all the pregame stuff, but I would think he would be in play for us,” Boone said.

While Boone was picky about getting Severino into the right situation Tuesday, he hopes to ease him into bigger spots with the Yankees’ season on the line.

“I’m glad that he got that under his belt, the first one, and got a couple innings, and I think maybe (we’ll) expand this potential role this second time around,” Boone said. “You can look at our relief for right now and I feel like there’s seven or eight guys or more that I feel good about being in a big spot in the later innings of a ballgame. And I think Sevy will work his way into that.”

THE ONE THAT THE YANKEES TOOK AWAY

Most experts at the trade deadline expected Anthony Rizzo to be here this weekend — except they figured he would be playing on the other side for the Red Sox. He was Boston’s top target to upgrade at first base, and they had to fall back to Kyle Schwarber, who never played the position.

The Yankees not only upgraded but kept Rizzo from hurting them.

“He’s a pro, he’s a winner. He’s a really good player, a really good two way player. I think there’s a light-heartedness that he brings to the field each and every day. That makes it fun for guys to be around him, while also kind of having those winning and tangible things that he brings,” Boone said. “He’s been great. He’s been a great addition.

“I was bummed when obviously he went on the COVID IL, because he was really rolling a little bit at the time. And that kind of little, a couple of weeks of setback for him,” Boone added. “And I think it took him a minute to get going again. But I’m glad he’s on our side here and looking forward to seeing what he’s going to do for us here in these final nine games.”

Rizzo is hitting .254/.352/.420 with a .772 OPS, six home runs and 18 RBI in 40 games for the Yankees.