Masahiro Tanaka (2-1, 3.22 ERA) returns to action to go for the sweep against Taijuan Walker (2-5, 6.18 ERA). Tanaka is being activated from the DL to make his first start since April 23. He was shut down with a right forearm strain and wrist tendinitis. He has faced the Mariners once, a complete game victory last June when he gave up two runs on six hits with 11 K’s. The two runs came from a Robinson Cano homer.
Joe Girardi expects Tanaka to throw 80-85 pitches today, 90-95 pitches in his next outing, then would consider Tanaka back to full strength.
Obviously you want to dominate in a game, pitching on that mound. But there’s always going to be ups and downs if you look at it year by year. The important thing is to try to find what’s best from year to year, and make the most of it. -Masahiro Tanaka
Walker is coming off the best start of his career against the Indians. He went eight innings blanking them on two hits and eight strikeouts.
Tidbits:
Alex Rodriguez is 13 hits from becoming the first player to reach 3,000 since Derek Jeter in 2011.
The Mariners are 28th in the Majors in on-base percentage (.297).
3:40 pm on Yes.
