Giancarlo Stanton could begin rehab assignment this week

BOSTON — After not having much in the way of an update regarding injured outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton on Friday, Aaron Boone provided a bit more information on Saturday.

Speaking before that night’s game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Boone indicated that Stanton, on the injured list since July 24 with left Achilles tendinitis, could be in line to start a rehab assignment soon, perhaps later this week.

Once Stanton, who still ranks third on the Yankees in homers with 24, is cleared for minor-league games, his return to the big-league club likely would occur after a small handful of rehab games.

“He’s working as we speak,” Boone said of Stanton, who has been working out behind the scenes at Yankee Stadium. “[On Friday] he was probably ramping up a little bit more as far as his running progression. More hitting, more defensive work. I think the next step will be getting him through a full pregame workout where he’s out shagging, standing around, doing those kind of things. Hopefully that’s tomorrow or Monday. And then we’ll probably be in a position to hopefully set a rehab schedule.”

Boone said of Stanton’s rehab stint in the minors: “I don’t think it will be long. Whether that’s two, three games, I’m not sure exactly, but I don’t expect it to be long.”

Since Stanton went to the IL, the Yankees have gone 6-11, part of an overall 22-26 stretch in their last 48 games entering Saturday night. They had gone 10-19 in their last 29 games and had lost eight of their last nine.

The Yankees’ skid began before Stanton got hurt, but his absence without question has impacted the offense.

“It’s Giancarlo Stanton,’’ Boone said in Seattle of the impact of Stanton’s IL stint. “That’s a big presence, not only with the production he provides but his presence in the lineup. He’s one more elite hitter [opponents] have to go through and plan for and to wear somebody down. Of course we miss him.”

Castro throwing

Miguel Castro was a solid contributor to the bullpen — posting a 4.00 ERA in 32 games, with 30 strikeouts in 27 innings — before landing on the IL on July 13 with a right shoulder strain. The righthander was not making much in the way of progress, but Boone said Castro started playing catch “a few days ago.”

Boone did not have a time frame for Castro’s return but said “he should be back” at some point in September.

The verdict is in

Aaron Judge’s MLB-leading 46th homer Friday night gave him 100 RBIs, making him the fifth player in franchise history to record at least 45 homers and 100 RBIs in multiple seasons. Judge joined Babe Ruth (who did it in nine seasons: 1920-21, ’24, ’26-31), Lou Gehrig (four times: 1927, ’31, ’34, ‘36), Alex Rodriguez (2005 and ’07) and Mickey Mantle (1956, ’61).

In addition to leading MLB in homers, Judge came into Saturday leading MLB in RBIs, runs (96), slugging (.688) and OPS (1.088). He ranked second in extra-base hits (65) and tied for second in walks (64). He had hit 16 home runs in his last 24 games and had a .436/.573/1.077 slash line in his last 22 games. In his last 96 games, he had 45 homers and 98 RBIs.

Judge went 0-for-2 with two walks in the Yankees’ 3-2 win.

Close calls

Of the Yankees’ 42 losses, 37 of them have been decided by three or fewer runs, 29 have been decided by two or fewer runs and 18 have been decided by one run. Five of their last six losses were by one run. They now are 22-18 in one-run games, but they were 14-4 as of June 18 and are 8-14 since then.

Fenway fun

Josh Donaldson, who went 1-for-4 with a walk Friday night and was 1-for-3 with a walk on Saturday night, entered Saturday with a .300/.412/.544 slash line, nine homers, 27 RBIs, 29 walks and 33 runs in 42 games at Fenway Park.