The Yankees begin a crucial series against the Red Sox on Thursday in Boston in what could decide their fate in the AL East — and their outlook for the opener looks decidedly better after Boston ace Chris Sale was put on the 10-day DL on Tuesday with left shoulder inflammation.

Sale, whose DL stint was retroactive to Saturday, expects to miss only one start, so his absence would be especially well-timed for the Yankees.

“It was normal soreness in the same general area,” Sale said on NESN before the Red Sox hosted the Phillies Tuesday at Fenway Park. “It was just a little more than I’m used to and just kind of built up over the last couple outings and I said something and they wanted to give it a little bit more time.”

Dave Dombrowski, Boston’s president of baseball operations, said Sale would be out for only “a short time period.”

Left-hander Brian Johnson is scheduled to fill in for Sale, facing CC Sabathia.

Sale has dominated the Yankees for most of his career and is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA against them this season, giving up just one run in 13 innings.

Overall, Sale is leading the majors in strikeouts and tops the AL with a 2.04 ERA. The lefty is 5-0 in his last six starts and hasn’t given up a run in his last three outings.

“It’s unfortunate,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of Sale’s injury. “He’s a hell of a pitcher. Injuries are all a part of it and certainly they’ve built a nice cushion [in the division].”