After a setback we all thought would shut Masahiro Tanaka down for the year, the Yankees continued to keep the hope. After Tanaka throw a very successful five inning simulated game yesterday at the teams minor league complex, their feeling was Tanaka could possibly make his next start with the Yankees. Today manager Joe Girardi confirmed via Chad Jennings that Tanaka has been penciled to start on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee stadium. Girardi said Tanaka will be on a fairly strict pitch count, between 70-75 pitches.
With the days winding down, Tanaka will probably make two starts this season, the next would probably be on six days rest in season series finale at Fenway. But before we think ahead about how many starts he will have, Tanaka has to get through his first start since July 8, when he was placed on the disabled list with a slight UCL tear in his pitching elbow. Tanaka is 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA on the season.
