TORONTO — Giancarlo Stanton, out since June 25 with a sprained right knee, participated in a simulated game Friday in Tampa and played four innings in the outfield. According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Stanton saw a lot of pitches.

“Continue to feel good about how he is responding,’’ Boone said of the outfielder, who could rejoin the Yankees on the upcoming homestand.

During each of Gary Sanchez’s two IL stints this season, Boone has worked Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka behind the plate. With Sanchez out for an undetermined amount of time with a strained left groin, Boone is going to use each of his catchers.

“I will probably split them up quite a bit. I think it is important that they are both playing, making sure they are protected from a rest standpoint,’’ said Boone who paired Romine with Masahiro Tanaka in the Yankees’ 6-5, 12-inning loss to the Blue Jays. “Right now you look at [Romine] a little ahead, but I would expect I would play Higgy.’’

Jordan Montgomery will pitch against the Blue Jays on Sunday. It will be the left-hander’s first big league appearance of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018.

“It could be a possible opener scenario where we open with somebody and go to Monty as our bulk guy, Also, depending on certain circumstance he could start,’’ Boone said.

After punching a sunflower seed holder Thursday with his right (throwing) hand, reliever Tommy Kahnle pitched a scoreless sixth inning.