ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It might remain a long shot for Aaron Hicks to make it back from a right flexor tendon problem but the switch-hitting center fielder hasn’t closed that door.

“I feel if I can get enough at-bats and start to actually get in games you never know what the possibility could be but I am getting ready as if I am getting ready for the postseason,’’ said Hicks, who has been out since Aug. 4.

Hicks said he stretched a throwing program to 120 feet on Tuesday but he hasn’t yet thrown to bases and that is a requirement for him to progress toward being ready to play in a game.

After Tuesday night’s 2-1, 12-inning loss to the Rays, Yankees relievers have two saves in 33 games and one in the last 25. Before that stretch the Yankees posted 13 saves in 19 games. Aroldis Chapman threw 11 shutout innings in 11 August games, the lefty closer has worked in just three of 21 in September.