Masahiro Tanaka in line to start Yankees’ potential wild-card game

Masahiro Tanaka will return to the rotation on Wednesday night, lining him up for a potential AL wild card start October. 6, on his customary extra day of rest.

Tanaka, who has pitched this season with a partially torn elbow ligament and also missed time due to a forearm strain, hurt his hamstring running out a bunt during the September 18 game at Citi Field against the Mets. “We wanted to make sure that he felt good and he could go through all the things that he needed to go through”. “So, not (a) big surprise there but, yes, I’m relieved and happy to be out there”.

“Definitely happy to be back out there”, Tanaka said through an interpreter.

The answer to the highly anticipated question is Tanaka will start Wednesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

Last Monday, Tanaka threw on flat ground. Tanaka said he doesn’t see the start as a “tune-up”, rather another regular season start to “give the best I have”.

Tanaka noted that if he had any physical restrictions that he would not likely be pitching whatsoever, so he views it as a positive that he is able to get out on the mound before the season ends.

“I think it’s important because I don’t think you want anyone to sit that long without making the start”, Girardi said.

He said his arm has remained “fine” throughout the healing process. Although he has fought with lingering injury issues throughout the season, Tanaka has nonetheless impressed, as he’s gone 12-7 with a 3.38 earned run average, while having a 136 to 26 strikeout to walk ratio in 149 innings in 2015.