Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will likely start wild-card game
Yankees righthander Masahiro Tanaka will likely start the wild-card game on Oct. 6, manager Joe Girardi told reporters on Monday.
Tanaka sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain while running the bases on Sept. 18 and missed his last scheduled start. He will test his hamstring strain without restrictions at Boston on Wednesday in the third game of the four-game set.
Girardi acknowledged that Tanaka's return to the rubber against the Red Sox “probably” means he will start the wild card game.
The 26-year-old previously missed six weeks earlier this season with forearm and wrist injuries.
In 23 starts this season, Tanaka is 12–7 with a team-best 3.38 ERA.
With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees trail the Toronto Blue Jays by four games for first place in the American League East. New York currently leads the wild card race by 4 1/2 games, and barring a Blue Jays collapse, will likely play in the one-game playoff on Oct. 6.
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