Yankees game 11 preview (4/17/16)

The Yanks try to salvage a win from the Mariners series with Masahiro Tanaka (0-0, 3.38 ERA) taking on fellow countryman and teamate Hisashi Iwakuma (0-1, 4.09 ERA). Tanaka will be pitching on his normal 4 days of rest the first time this season. He has given up just 2 runs in both of his starts this season, but has no wins to show for it. He didn't get out of the sixth inning in either, and gave up 3 and 4 hits respectively. In his 2 starts against Seattle last season, he went 2-0 allowing 4 runs between them. Iwakuma had the pleasure of facing the Rangers in his first 2 starts of the year. He allowed 3 and 2 runs in those games, but didn't get a decision in either. He is 2-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 5 career starts against the Yanks. In his only time facing them last season, he gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in a 5.2 inning win in the Bronx. Iwakuma and Tanaka were teammates in Nippon Professional Baseball as members of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. From 2007-2011, Iwakuma would often advise the younger Tanaka on the strategies of the game. Over those five seasons, the two starters combined for a 2.66 ERA in more than 1,700 innings and struck out nearly 1,500 batters while walking just 381. Their combined efforts were rewarded with an impressive 120-62 record.   Tidbits: Robinson Cano is 1-10 (.100) against Tanaka, and that lone hit left the park. Nelson Cruz is 0-12 against Tanaka. Tanaka is 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA and a complete game win against Seattle in his career.   1:05 pm on Yes.