ARLINGTON, Texas – The Yankees are essentially postponing the decision about their rotation until later in the season, but with Nestor Cortes, who has changed roles once in the meantime.

Cortes will pitch as a piggyback reliever against the Cubs this weekend, likely behind Clarke Schmidt on Saturday, although manager Aaron Boone left open the possibility of him pitching behind Luis Gil on Friday.

After Gil and Schmidt, both starting for the first time since being released from the injured list, Gerrit Cole will start the final game of the series at Wrigley Field on Sunday, followed by Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman on Monday and Tuesday against the Royals.

Cortes is expected to re-enter the rotation next week against the Red Sox (in a four-game series that begins Thursday in the Bronx), as the Yankees use a six-man rotation once before deciding which starter emerges from it in the home stretch – assuming everyone stays healthy.

“I think that’s just the best fit of having to integrate two guys back and building Clarke up,” Boone said Tuesday at Globe Life Field. “And with the day off (Thursday), I didn’t want to rush too many guys back for seven days, eight days or whatever. I think that made the most sense.

“Nestor will be reinstated in the rotation in the Boston series and if we come out of that, we’ll get six points the first time around, assuming everything is good and OK. And then hopefully at some point we’ll have to make a decision because a lot of people are posting and doing well.”

Boone said Cortes, who has experience as a reliever, “took the news well.”

“He wants to start, but he also wants to win,” Boone said. “He’s going to be a professional. And again, he’s not out of the question as a starter.”

As for how the Yankees will ultimately make their decision about which starters to remove from the rotation, Boone indicated that it will not be based solely on results.

“A lot will depend on the results, fitness, opponents and things like that,” he said.