The reasoning behind not activating Anthony or Story for most or perhaps all of this critical four-game series against the Yankees? They aren’t ready yet.

“I don’t think we’re far off, but we’re going to — while we have the time — make sure we use it,” Tracy said before the series-opening 1-0 loss at Yankee Stadium. “I think a lot of people have the perception that maybe we circled a date on the calendar. When you’re out for 3½ months, it’s difficult to circle a date on the calendar [and declare], ‘So they’ll be back then.’

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“It’s more about just continuing to walk through not only physically how they feel, but walk through reps, timing, all those things. So we’ll keep talking to them and figure it out. Sunday’s possible, but we’ll see how they feel after Saturday.”

Anthony (sprained right hand/wrist) has been out since early May. Story (sports hernia surgery) hasn’t played since mid-May.

Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony began his minor league rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Aug. 18, and then moved up to Triple-A Worcester Tuesday. Alex Speier/Globe Staff

Across seven games with Worcester and Double-A Portland, Anthony is 7 for 23 with two homers, two doubles, seven strikeouts, and three walks. In nine games, all with Worcester, Story is 5 for 32 with no extra-base hits, 10 strikeouts, and one walk.

“Physically, they feel like they’re close to being ready, but then you still know that they’re working through stuff as far as game play,” Tracy said. “ ‘Hey, I feel good, I can compete, probably an extra at-bat here wouldn’t hurt.’ So that’s where we’re at.”

It helps, of course, that Mickey Gasper had a huge week or so as the primary designated hitter and the middle infield has remained just fine sans Story. The Red Sox aren’t desperate.

“With the injuries we had, particularly in the infield, I think a lot of people probably [expect] when you’re tapping that far into your depth … OK, that’ll fall apart,” Tracy said. “It speaks volume of the guys. Everybody that’s come up has been awesome.”

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm stress reaction) also was off Friday and will play Saturday with Worcester. He is more likely to return Tuesday, the annual Sept. 1 expansion of active rosters from 26 to 28 players.

Whitlock update

The Red Sox “likely” will bring reliever Garrett Whitlock (right elbow inflammation) back from the injured list on Saturday, Tracy said.

Why not Friday? Because he faced hitters in a practice setting Wednesday, and the Red Sox didn’t want to use him twice in three days immediately after his stint of not pitching at all. (Such a scenario also would have rendered him unavailable for the doubleheader Saturday.)

This way, Whitlock will return fresh, following consecutive days off.

Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (left) was last seen on the field Monday, shaking closer Aroldis Chapman’s hand after the win in Miami. Rutschman returned to the lineup Friday night for the series opener at the Yankees, and went 0 for 4 in the 1-0 loss.Lynne Sladky/AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Rutschman returns

Adley Rutschman was back in the lineup Friday night, playing catcher and batting fifth, after missing the previous two games because of a hyperextended right elbow. He still wore a sleeve on that arm, but is generally fine.

“He’s good,” Tracy said. “I put him in [the lineup] with the expectation he could play, and then he was going to come in and hit and throw. He did all those things early and felt good. So we got him back.”

Rutschman entered the game in a 1-for-17 slide, and went hitless in four at-bats, with two strikeouts. Take out his pair of two-hit games against Arizona back on Aug. 17-18, and in his other 11 games for the Sox the former Oriole is just 2 for 36 at the plate, with 14 strikeouts and five walks.

Movement on Crochet

Garrett Crochet (left shoulder injury) has advanced to “mound catch,” Tracy said. That is less than a full-fledged bullpen session but more than regular catch … Tanner Houck (Tommy John surgery) faced hitters for the fourth time Friday and will graduate on Tuesday to pitching in a scrimmage with low-level minor leaguers … The Red Sox signed veteran catcher Tomas Nido to a minor league contract, and assigned him to Triple-A Worcester … In attendance at Yankee Stadium: former Red Sox and Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino, who was credentialed as a photographer. He has pursued broadcasting/multimedia endeavors since last pitching last year.

Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.