Why Marcus Stroman is confident his MLB return will be better than brutal rehab stint

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.The Yankees will get another look at Marcus Stroman when he starts against the A’s on Sunday, hoping that the belief shared by both the team and the right-hander that he will perform better in a major league setting than in his minor league rehab assignment proves to be correct. Stroman, sidelined with left knee inflammation since making just three starts at the beginning of the season, was knocked around in his final start with Double-A Somerset, but he and Aaron Boone are confident the results will be better against the A’s — and not because it’s the A’s. “It’s definitely a feel and making sure the knee is moving well, the arm and body feel well,” Stroman said of his approach to his rehab, which ended with him giving up five runs and 10 hits in 3 ²/₃ innings Tuesday. “It’s about getting built up,” Stroman said.

“I’m someone that definitely needs the intensity turned up.I’m looking forward to getting back out there.” Stroman noted he’s been working to figure out how to best manage the discomfort in the knee, something he said he’s dealt with since tearing his ACL in 2015 while with the Blue Jays. That includes ensuring his mechanics are on point. “When I’m more efficient mechanically, my knee is getting less stress,” said Stroman, who acknowledged he’d likely always have to deal with it. The Yankees decided to start Stroman instead of Allan Winans, who allowed four runs in 4 ¹/₃ innings in his start after being recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill in for Ryan Yarbrough, on the IL with a strained right oblique. Winans was optioned to SWB following Saturday’s game after allowing three runs — two earned — in two innings to open a roster spot for Stroman. Giancarlo Stanton is still looking for his first homer after being sidelined since spring traini...