Yankees reveal wild-card roster vs. Red Sox

The Yankees have their first 26 set to chase 28.

Their roster for the wild-card series against the Red Sox includes three catchers, with J.C. Escarra joining the fold at the expense of reserve outfielder Austin Slater, and Will Warren claiming a bullpen spot over lefty Ryan Yarbrough.

Game 1 is on Tuesday night in The Bronx as the Yankees begin another chase for the franchise’s 28th championship.

Having Escarra on roster allows manager Aaron Boone greater flexibility in being able to pinch-hit and/or pinch-run for Austin Wells and/or Ben Rice, especially when both are in the starting lineup (Rice at first base) — which they are expected to be for Game 2 against righty Brayan Bello.

Wells is set to catch Max Fried in Game 1 with Paul Goldschmidt at first base against lefty Garrett Crochet, though Rice is expected to enter as a pinch-hitter if the Red Sox bring in a righty from the bullpen.

The Yankees acquired the right-handed hitting Slater at the trade deadline to help against lefty pitchers, but he struggled in limited action.

He was 3-for-25 with 16 strikeouts after the trade, and if he was not going to be starting against Crochet on Tuesday — Trent Grisham will likely be in the lineup left-on-left — then his spot on the roster became expendable.

With the Yankees only needing three starters in this series — Cam Schlittler would get Game 3 if necessary — Warren made the roster as a potential reliever, with swing-and-miss stuff that could play up in the bullpen.

Luis Gil was not in consideration to make it after starting Sunday’s Game 162.

Yarbrough had been in the bullpen as a second lefty behind Tim Hill, though he was not as sharp since coming off the IL earlier this month for a strained hamstring.

Paul Blackburn, initially signed in August for starting depth, made the roster after pitching well aside from a rough Yankees debut.

In seven outings since then, he posted a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 12 innings.