OAKLAND, Calif. — On a day the Yankees put Aroldis Chapman on the 15-day IL with a leg infection that was the result of a tattoo, fellow left-handed reliever Zack Britton left his second rehab appearance with Low-A Tampa with a leg cramp.

“It’s hot and humid down here,’’ Britton said in an email. “Arm feels great though. Whole body is getting back into playing shape.”

The Yankees are holding out hope Britton could return to their pen for the stretch run.
Saturday was his second rehab game, with Aaron Boone saying this past week he’d need about eight or nine games to be back in The Bronx.

Chapman’s disastrous season got even worse, with a second stint on the IL that will keep him out at least until Sept. 8.

No corresponding move was made, as the Yankees expect Clay Holmes (back) to return from his IL stint on Monday in Anaheim.

Boone said Chapman’s infection had gotten worse since Thursday, when it first became an issue before the series opener against Oakland.

Despite the severity, Boone said he’s hopeful Chapman will be OK in “several days” and will be able to return when he’s eligible. Since the IL stint was backdated to Wednesday, Chapman can return on Sept. 8.

Asked if he was upset Chapman would put himself at risk of something going wrong by getting a tattoo during the season, Boone said his focus was on “getting him right.”

“It’s a personal choice,” Boone said. “Usually it’s a safe thing, but it’s turned into an unfortunate situation that it’s turned into an infection.”

Chapman hadn’t pitched since Aug. 19 against Toronto, when he gave up a run on a hit and two walks, while retiring just one batter.

He also walked a pair and gave up two runs in the outing before that one two days earlier.
The two outings undid what Chapman had managed to accomplish in his previous nine scoreless outings, as the Yankees have completely lost faith in the former closer in any type of pressure situation.

Both Britton and Chapman are in the final years of their deals with the Yankees and their futures are uncertain.

Britton underwent a variation of Tommy John surgery that he hoped would allow him to come back in just 12 months and Chapman is on the IL for a second time of the season, having also missed 35 games with left Achilles tendinitis.

Holmes had already taken Chapman’s closer spot earlier in the year before the right-hander had some command issues of his own following his All-Star Game appearance.
Boone and the Yankees are currently using a closer-by-committee strategy, with Wandy Peralta getting the last two saves.

But the failure in getting another pitcher to the West Coast in time for Saturday’s game means the Yankees could be short-handed in the bullpen for three straight games — and that’s with Greg Weissert coming off his brutal MLB debut and Luke Bard yet to make his first appearance with the team since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.