Yankees RHP Tanaka to throw off mound Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to throw 25 pitches Saturday in his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list with a partial tear in his right elbow.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced the session before Friday night's game at Tampa Bay.

Tanaka is 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts. This is the Japanese right-hander's first season in the major leagues.

The Yankees put Tanaka on the disabled list on July 9 and hope he can return next month. Tanaka says he has ''no pain'' in his comeback work and Girardi says ''everything has been positive'' so far.

Tanaka threw on level ground for 12 minutes Friday. He also took grounders for 4 minutes and made pickoff throws to first base.