Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka pitching Wednesday, lined up for Wild Card

That is where the Yankees anticipate being at this time, as they sit 4 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East, yet 4.5 ahead of the Astros for the first Wild Card spot. He will test his hamstring strain without restrictions at Boston on Wednesday in the third game of the four-game set.

“If that was the case, I probably wouldn’t be back”, Tanaka said.

That would give Tanaka five days’ rest before the October 6 one-game playoff.

The Red Sox enter Yankee Stadium hot, having swept the Orioles over three scoreless games at Fenway Park, the first three-game sweep in which they held their opponent without a run since they did it against the Washington Senators in 1958. “I knew that I was going to be out there before the season ended. But yes, I’m relieved and happy to be out there”.

He said his arm has remained “fine” throughout the healing process.

Last Monday, Tanaka threw on flat ground.

“We all wanted to get to this day”.

The Yankees continue to make their trek to the postseason, whether it’d be via the American League East division (the least likely option) or the Wild Card (the more likely option).

In 23 starts this season Tanaka is 12-7 with a 3.38 ERA, the best mark on the team among starters.

“For us, we want to get him back out there and know he’s capable of doing everything he needs to do, ” Girardi said. Girardi said he doesn’t expect Eovaldi to be available for the wild card game, but he could be a reliever if the Yankees play further into the postseason.