TORONTO — Five months and four days later, stepping on a bullpen mound worked out better for Luis Severino, so much so that the Yankees’ ace thinks he can contribute to his club’s title quest.

“Perfect,” Severino said Friday afternoon at Rogers Centre after a 23-pitch session that featured fastballs, change-ups and two sliders. “Better than expected. … I feel really strong.”

On March 5 at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Severino didn’t feel strong as he warmed up for his first Grapefruit League start of the spring. The Yankees called that injury rotator cuff inflammation in his right shoulder, and after that came a mysterious lat problem. Not until Friday had the 25-year-old felt healthy enough to get back on the mound.

“For me, it’s been a really long, long year,” Severino said before the Yankees’ 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. “Doing these steps, now I feel I’m ready to help my team.”

Severino said he plans to throw off a mound again on Monday, probably 35 pitches, and following another mound session or two after that, he will graduate to throwing to hitters and probably minor league rehabilitation starts.

“Another big step for [Severino], the ball was coming out very well,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, who explained there is time to build the former staff ace up to be a late-season starter. “We will see, where we are and how much he is built up.”