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Tanaka, not Sabathia, appears set to start Yankees' opener

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Masahiro Tanaka is lined up to start the Yankees' opener against Toronto on April 6, which would end CC Sabathia's streak of six straight opening-day starts for New York.

''Absolutely, it will be a great honor to be able to pitch opening day,'' Tanaka said through a translator. ''Being able to pitch on that very first day of the season, I think it says a lot about what the organization is expecting out of a pitcher.''

Yankees manager Joe Girardi says Sabathia's next exhibition start is Saturday, which lines up the 34-year old left-hander to face the Blue Jays on April 8.

Sabathia is coming back from season-ending knee surgery in July. He has 11 opening-days starts overall.

Tanaka is starting his second season with New York.

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