The New York Yankees need a helping hand in their bullpen as Saturday’s Aaron Judge birthday rainout becomes a Sunday doubleheader. Instead of making a drastic roster shuffle, they opted to call on one of the very few members of the 40-man roster who remains unfamiliar to most Yankee fans.

Instead of calling on Allan Winans after his historic Triple-A strikeout surge, they’re instead turning to Yerry de los Santos, a surprise addition to the 40-man during the offseason.

Until the tail end of the offseason (when Ryan Yarbrough became both available and irresistible), de los Santos seemed like a favorite to earn the final spot in the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen. Instead, both Brent Headrick and Yarbrough made the roster as lefties (who could soak up varying degrees of innings), and de los Santos headed to Scranton.

Now, he’ll get an opportunity to make his Yankees debut after spending parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with Pittsburgh.

Yankees name reliever Yerry de los Santos to roster as 27th man for doubleheader against Toronto Blue Jays

Surprised the Yankees couldn’t somehow find a legal loophole and add Adam Ottavino as their 27th man.

Unfortunately, this means de los Santos will be returned before the Yankees travel to Baltimore. Hopefully, unlike Jorbit Vivas, New York will get a chance to use him to avoid phantom status.

In 8 1/3 innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the season, de los Santos has allowed five hits and one earned run, walking three and striking out nine. He kept runs off the board in spring training as well (just two earned in 9 1/3 frames across eight games), though he walked six men and scuffled with command.

The Yankees will more than likely need bulk on Sunday, especially with closer Devin Williams quite possibly relegated to middle relief after Friday night’s one-run disaster. Odds are the Yankees won’t be using him again at home this weekend, especially not after, “We Want Weaver!” chants cascaded through the crowd as he attempted to compose himself.

The Yankees’ 27th man will likely get some run in one of these two games. Hopefully, it comes with the scoreboard lopsided in New York’s favor.