BALTIMORE -- For a Yankees team that can¡¯t seem to lose no matter who occupies the spots in the lineup, reinforcements soon on the way will make it seem like Christmas in August.

One of the more eagerly awaited returnees, Giancarlo Stanton (PCL strain in right knee), recently began baseball activities for the first time since landing on the injured list on June 26, manager Aaron Boone said before Wednesday¡¯s series finale against the Orioles. Specifically, Stanton hit off a tee and threw on Tuesday.

He¡¯s doing this in addition to continuing to run on an anti-gravity treadmill as he works his way back from the knee ailment. It¡¯s a big step, although Boone did not spell out an exact timetable moving forward.

¡°He¡¯s moving in the right direction,¡± Boone said. ¡°The fact that he was able to hit off a tee was a good thing.¡±

It¡¯s been an injury-riddled year for Stanton, who played three games to start the season before missing 68 with a mix of ailments. After he returned from his first IL stint, he played in just six games before leaving a June 25 win over the Blue Jays with his current injury after sliding into third base.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are surviving without his pop, having smacked 11 home runs through two games against the Orioles this week.

CC could return next week

CC Sabathia has been throwing in the Camden Yards outfield this week and will throw a bullpen session either Saturday or Sunday in Toronto, Boone said. How he responds to that session will determine when the Yankees slot him back into the rotation, but that will most likely come at the latter portion of the homestand that starts on Monday against the Orioles.

¡°If everything goes well with that, maybe sometime next week, possibly,¡± Boone said. "Where he slots in, I¡¯m not sure, but yes. We want to make sure everything's good to go and fine, and if he comes out of [the ¡®pen session] feeling well, I think there¡¯s a chance you could see him at some point on the homestand.¡±

Sabathia has been dealing with inflammation in his left knee since he was placed on the IL on July 28, a day after his most recent start. In the final season of his career, he has a 4.78 ERA across 17 starts.

Betances soon heading for a mound

Luis Severino is scheduled to throw off the mound for the first time on Friday in Toronto, and IL-mate Dellin Betances is not far behind. Betances has been throwing in the Camden Yards outfield this week as well, and assuming no setbacks, could hit the mound when the Yankees return home.

¡°Dellin threw on flat ground today, which was encouraging,¡± Boone said.

Roster move

To provide their taxed bullpen some relief, the Yankees called up righty Chance Adams from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of Wednesday series finale against the Orioles.

This is the sixth time New York has called up Adams this season, and the 24-year-old owns a 7.07 ERA across 14 innings in five appearances so far this year. At Triple-A, Adams has posted a 4.46 ERA across 78 2/3 innings. He pitched in relief of James Paxton in Wednesday's 14-2 win, allowing one hit and one run, walking one and striking out one in 2 1/3 innings.

Lefty Stephen Tarpley, who pitched two innings while giving up two runs in Tuesday's win against the Orioles, was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the game.