Tanaka Could Return To Yankees' Rotation After 1 More Simulated Game
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees are 5 1/2 games out of a Wild Card berth in the American League -- with four teams to leap -- and only have 20 games remaining on their schedule.
So no, a return to the postseason doesn't look likely.
But ace Masahiro Tanaka is still determined to pitch for the Bombers before the regular season comes to an end, and the organization is fully behind him.
The rookie threw a three-inning simulated game, tossing 45 pitches, at Yankee Stadium prior to New York's loss to the Rays on Tuesday.
According to manager Joe Girardi, the All-Star could return to the rotation following one more outing, whether that's another simulated game or an instructional-league start in Tampa.
"I think that's possible to look at," the skipper said.
New York would like to see the right-hander face major-league hitters before the season ends so it knows what it has moving forward. Tanaka, who was placed on the disabled list in early July with a partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery. If Tanaka ends up requiring surgery, he'll likely miss all of 2015.
"If he pitched in a big-league game or two and felt good, you wouldn't do surgery on a guy that felt good," Girardi said. "That's the bottom line. Our hope is that we get through this and that he's a pitcher for us next year. For us to operate on a guy that feels good would be silly."
Tanaka burst onto the scene after signing a seven-year, $155 million deal in the offseason. He exceeded all expectations prior to getting hurt, going 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA and striking out 135 in 129 1/3 innings.
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