Giancarlo Stanton to be activated for Thursday's game in Oakland

Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees works out on the field before a game against the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 17. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Giancarlo Stanton cleared his final hurdle.
The outfielder/designated hitter, on the injured list since July 26 with left Achilles tendinitis, is set to be activated Thursday night in Oakland when the Yankees start a three-city, 10-game trip.
“I told him to make sure we get through the rest of the day,” Aaron Boone said with a smile after watching Stanton face Luis Severino during a 25-pitch live BP session Tuesday afternoon at the Stadium. “He’s standing in on a couple of more bullpens now [tracking pitches]. Some [pregame] outfield work. Assuming that goes right, plan on him being activated for Thursday’s game.”
Stanton, who also ran the bases without any apparent issues Tuesday, said on Monday that it’s been “very annoying” and “frustrating” watching from afar as the Yankees have struggled. Going into Tuesday, the Yankees, even having won their last two games, were 9-17 since Stanton was placed on the IL.
“Not out there grinding with the guys,” Stanton said.
Stanton, hitting .228 but with 24 homers — still the third-highest total on the club behind Aaron Judge’s 47 and Anthony Rizzo’s 28 — and an .807 OPS, said he hopes to get back into getting regular reps in the outfield not too long after returning.
"I just want to jump in there and get some games under my belt to get a better gauge of it, but I help the team better when I'm in the outfield and make us more dynamic," Stanton said. "So just as soon as possible."
After facing Stanton, Severino said the slugger “looks pretty good” from his perspective.
“I was trying to throw a fastball by him, and he almost hit a home run to rightfield. It was a foul ball,” Severino said with a laugh. “But he looks really good.”
As for Severino, placed on the 60-day IL against his wishes on Aug. 1 with the right lat strain that landed him on the regular IL July 14, the righthander said he continues to feel as if he could get big-league hitters out. A feeling Severino, who isn’t eligible to come off the IL until mid-September because of the 60-day designation, has had for the last 7-10 days.
“Yeah. 100%,” Severino said, asked if he was frustrated still being shelved when he believes he could contribute right now. “I still feel it was not necessary to be out that much time, but I can’t do anything about it. Just keep working hard. I know I’m going to be more than ready when it’s time to come off the IL.”
Severino, whose fastball sat in the 95-97 mph range during Tuesday’s session, will get his chance soon enough.
But Stanton first.
German goes for a run
Domingo German, who took a 104-mph shot off his right calf off the bat of James McCann during Monday night’s game, said he felt “much better” than he did the night before.
It showed.
The righthander, who earned the win in Monday’s 4-2 victory, walked with a noticeable limp when he walked into the clubhouse following the game. German walked without a limp when he came into the clubhouse a few hours before Tuesday night’s game.
“I was at least a little bit concerned coming in today, and when I first saw him, he was coming in from a 45-minute run outside,” Boone said. “Looked like a marathon runner. He felt really good, so that was encouraging.”
Britton latest
Zack Britton, recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent late last season, is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Class-A Tampa. The Yankees, while hoping to get Britton — a free agent after this year — back at some point before the end of the regular season, nonetheless are not counting on getting meaningful innings out of the lefthander in 2022.