BOSTON -- The Yankees had hoped to coax Brett Gardner back into the starting lineup without requiring a roster move, but that clock expired as the veteran went through drills at Fenway Park on Thursday and was still deemed unable to patrol the outfield.

Gardner was placed on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation, retroactive to Monday, prior to Thursday's series opener against the Red Sox. In a corresponding move, the club recalled left-hander Stephen Tarpley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

"I do feel like it's a day-to-day situation, but we're just at that point where it's five days now. ... Could we grind through this right now?" manager Aaron Boone said. "Maybe, but then it's something that's probably lingering throughout the year."

Scratched from Sunday's lineup, Gardner was unavailable for the three-game series against the Twins in Minnesota. Boone said that Gardner could be ready to return to action next week, when the Yanks return home for a two-game Interleague series against the D-backs.

"I'm trying to avoid taking any steps backwards at this point,” Gardner said. “Obviously with where the team is, five days in, I'm still not quite ready. It's just the smart thing to do, take a step back and make sure I'm good to go for the rest of the season. I was feeling better today than yesterday, just not quite where I wanted or needed to be."

The roster move indicates that the Yankees will be operating with a two-man bench, at least for one game. Boone said that the club wanted Tarpley to provide coverage for the taxed bullpen, though he acknowledged that promoting outfielder Clint Frazier is a possibility.

"He was struggling a little bit there swinging for a while," Boone said. "This last week, he's had some really big games down there. The reports have been good on him. He's a consideration if we needed something."

Cameron Maybin, who is on a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, is also moving toward rejoining the active roster.

"It sounds like he's doing really well," Boone said of Maybin. "I think he's going to play nine innings in the field [Friday]. He's doing well and I would say he's really close, potentially an option really soon here."

Comeback trail
Dellin Betances (right lat strain) has increased his throwing program to 90 feet, reaching that distance on Thursday. Betances said that he made 25 throws at 60 feet, 20 at 75 feet and five at 90 feet. He will throw to 90 feet again on Saturday.

This date in Yankees history
July 25, 2015: At 39 years and 363 days, Alex Rodriguez became the oldest player in Yankees history to hit three homers in a game, capping the feat with a game-tying ninth-inning homer in an 8-5 victory at Minnesota.