Jonathan Loáisiga’s importance to the depleted and shaky Yankees bullpen cannot be overstated. 

It has made his ongoing slump — including another home run allowed in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Cubs — that much harder to accept. 

Loáisiga delivered a flawless seventh inning, but then gave up a solo home run to Chicago catcher Carson Kelly on a misplaced 0-2 curveball at the start of the eighth.

It marked the third homer the righty reliever has surrendered in his past two appearances. 

In his last few bullpen appearances, he’s allowed eight earned runs over seven innings, raising his season ERA to 5.01 across 22 games. 

“Today, his pitches were excellent. However, as I’ve mentioned before concerning Lo, it’s about that next level of precision. The difference between him dominating and getting hit is very subtle,” Aaron Boone remarked. “It’s rare for right-handers to take him deep. 

“Today was very Lo-ish in a lot of ways: rifling through that first inning, and then just flips one in there. That’s what we’ve gotta get him [to do] in there. The stuff is in line and it’s there, but we’ve gotta get that next line of precision and execution.” 

The 30-year-old Loáisiga underwent elbow surgery — albeit not Tommy John reconstruction — in April of last season, but he does not believe he still is shaking off the rust from that lengthy shutdown. 

“No. I felt really good out there. I’m recuperating pretty well and feeling strong and normal out there,” Loáisiga said through translator Marlon Abreu. “I keep praying for health for the rest of the season and I know things will turn around and I will start getting the results I want. 

“This is my seventh season in the league. Guys have adjusted to me throughout the years, and I have full trust in the adjustments that I need to make and that I can get the results I know I can get.” 

Loáisiga also gave up home runs to Randy Arozarena and Cole Young during his previous outing Wednesday against the Mariners. He’s already matched his career high with six home runs allowed this season. 

“When he’s at his best, righties are really struggling against him with that sinker of his,” Boone said. “I don’t feel like we have to reinvent it because we have a struggling guy. His stuff is down and it’s where it needs to be … I just think it’s that next level of execution.”