Yankees Gary Sanchez closing in on rehab assignment

Sunday’s series finale vs. the Blue Jays will end a stretch of 20 consecutive games for the Yankees. It’s also the day Gary Sanchez ramps up his rehab at the clubs minor league facility in Tampa, FLA.

Although Yankees slugger Gary Sanchez was in the Bronx earlier this week, first running the bases and then throwing the ball around the diamond from the crouched position — he arrived in Tampa, FLA on Sunday to continue his rehab from the second severe groin strain he’s sustained this season.

With a precautionary MRI revealing that the strain is indeed healing, Sanchez is expected to ramp up baseball activities before potentially setting off on a rehab assignment that could begin in the Gulf Coast League later next week.

If all goes well, the organization expects Sanchez to re-join the Yankees in about two weeks time.

Out of action since July 23, the threat of Sanchez’s stick has been sorely missed — even if his .188/.283/.416 slash line with 37 runs scored, 14 home runs and 42 RBIs in 245 at-bats aren’t what anyone would have expected following his 2017 All-Star campaign.

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However, a fully healthy Sanchez has all the ability in the world to come alive and help carry a streaky Yankee offense deep into the playoffs.

In El Gary’s absence, Austin Romine has done an admirable job — as in his last 30 games, the 29-year-old primary backup catcher is hitting .247/.272/.423 with 12 runs scored, four homers and 16 RBIs in 97 at-bats.

Luckily, it appears Romine escaped serious injury on Saturday when he was forced to leave the contest in the top of the sixth inning after taking a foul ball to the face mask.

Following the Yankees 11-6 victory, which saw the Bombers smash four long balls, manager Aaron Boone told NJ.com that Romine had passed the concussion protocol.

"“Went through the testing and stuff on the field and deemed his was OK,” Boone said, “and we took him down in the tunnel in between innings, felt like he was OK, but just seeing the video and seeing him stumble like that, we just wanted to be careful.”"

With the Yankees off on Monday, Boone hopes to get Romine back in the lineup on Tuesday vs. the Marlins in Miami.

Now 6-4 on their current 11-game homestand — and three games up on the Astros and A’s for the AL Wild Card (who are tied for the AL West lead), it’ll be good for the Yankees to put another win in the books on Sunday, as they are 19-6 in-home day games this season.