This is not a drill, Opening Day is here! After a long LONG winter, baseball is back in the Bronx. All is right in the world. Masahiro Tanaka earns Opening Day honors after going 13-5 with a 2.77 ERA in 20 starts during his MLB debut season last year. He made his first start against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre last April. Melky Cabrera homered off his third pitch, but the Yankees still won. With Cabrera now with the White Sox, Tanaka has no worries.
“He’s gone, so I wouldn’t have that sort of negative image from last year. Yes, obviously I’d like to have a different outcome for the first batter this season,” Tanaka said. “I think the biggest difference is that I’ll be pitching at home this season. I’m really happy about that. Last year obviously was over in Toronto and being away from home. Definitely being able to pitch at home this season, I’m really happy about that.”
Tanaka knocks off CC Sabathia as the Opening Day pitcher after holding the title for six years.
Drew Hutchison will go for the Blue Jays in his first Opening Day start. He went 11-13 with a 4.48 ERA in 32 starts last season after missing all of 2013 recovering from Tommy John. He is 1-2 with a 4.80 ERA in three Yankee Stadium appearances.
Our State of the Yankees article will get you up to speed on what this season has in store for our beloved Bombers. Another season his upon us at last! Go Yankees!
Tidbits:
Joe Torre will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Tanaka is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA against Toronto.
Last year the Yanks missed the playoffs for a second straight season for the first time since 1993, which is ironically the last time the Blue Jays were in the postseason.
1:05 PM on Yes & ESPN.
