The Yankees came into the season with one of the strongest bullpens in the league. But just 41 games in, with the team still riding high atop the standings, that bullpen has already taken several significant hits.

Chad Green and Luis Gil both need Tommy John surgery. “It just gradually got a little worse,” Green said of his arm. “It got to the point where obviously we knew something wasn’t right, so we decided to shut it down.”

And Zack Britton has not been available all season, recovering from his own elbow surgery, something the Yankees knew heading into the year, but looms even larger now as their injured list gets larger.

“I still feel like we have a ton of good options and a lot of talented, really good pitchers,” Aaron Boone said before Monday’s game against the Orioles. “We hit a little bump here. Whether it’s injuries or a guy struggling, that’s all part of it. I still feel like we’re in a really good spot back there. It’ll continue to be a strength for us.”

On the field, both Jonathan Loaisiga and Aroldis Chapman have been bad this year. Chapman also has been dealing with his own problems in his left Achilles, something he said has been bothering him for a few weeks.

“Chappy had an MRI and tests [Monday],” Boone said. “Everything came back good with the Achilles. We are treating it as Achilles tendonitis. He’s going to see the doctor and go through stuff today. We’ll make a call [Monday] or [Tuesday] as far as what we want to do there.”

Chapman has given up runs in each of his last five appearances, including a tough one in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader where he recorded one out and let in two runs. After that game, Chapman gave some reasons for his struggles.

“To put it simply, things have not worked out,” the closer said through team interpreter Marlon Abreu. “When you’re dealing with things, sometimes it can affect you, but at the end of the day it’s not the reason for these last results. We’re dealing with it and we’ll do the best we can.”

No official decision has been made on Chapman, but Boone understands that they have to keep an open mind.

“I think the IL is still very much in play. We just want to not rush into it.”

Last season, Chapman was placed on the 10-day IL on Aug. 7 with elbow inflammation. When he returned, he closed out the regular season by posting a 2.70 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. Prior to the injury and subsequent rest that it required, he had a 3.63 ERA for the season.

If Chapman does get removed from his closer role, either due to a stint on the IL or a performance-based demotion, Clay Holmes would be the obvious replacement. Boone wasn’t ready to commit to that yet, saying that he’d let the situation of a given game dictate who he uses.

“Probably more matchup,” Boone explained. “If there’s a big spot in an earlier inning, I wouldn’t hesitate to use [Holmes] then. We’ll kind of be fluid with that.”

As for Loaisiga, he had an even worse day than Chapman on Sunday. The man who was arguably the Yankees’ best reliever last season currently has a 7.02 ERA. His contribution to Sunday’s doubleheader was getting charged for four earned runs in 0.2 innings.

“Going back to the games against Baltimore, I felt like I was getting back to feeling the same way I felt last year,” Loaisiga said after his poor day at the office. “That being said, [Sunday] was definitely not a good day.”

The entire year has been difficult on the Nicaraguan reliever, who said he’s been making mechanical adjustments to try and “stay back more” and create more leverage on his pitches.

“It’s tough when you go through a season like last season where you’re very consistent and very effective,” he allowed. “You have to trust in yourself and your pitches. Letting the team down in certain situations is definitely tough.”

HOUSEKEEPING

Before Monday’s game, Boone provided some updates on two other pitchers in the organization, starting with the revelation that JP Sears is “most likely” going to be the Yankees’ starting pitcher on Wednesday.

The other, Domingo German, has not yet pitched in a professional game this season due to a right shoulder impingement. Boone said he’s making progress in his rehab, though.

“German is doing really well,” Boone said. “He’s on his way back. Realistically, he’s still a ways out. But he’s throwing his first live BP’s. Everything’s gone smooth since he started his throwing program. So, we’re encouraged there.”

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