Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will likely start wild-card game

Tanaka said he doesn’t see the start as a “tune-up”, rather another regular season start to “give the best I have”. “So, not (a) big surprise there but, yes, I’m relieved and happy to be out there”.

The right-hander hasn’t pitched in a game since September 18, when he suffered a Grade 1 (mild) right hamstring strain against the Mets at Citi Field; Tanaka was breaking out of the batter’s box on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

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.

Though Girardi has “a bit of concern” over Tanaka’s lingering degree of discomfort, the club feels “pretty good” about his condition.

Girardi acknowledged that Tanaka’s return to the rubber against the Red Sox “probably” means he will start the wild card game.

Tanaka would have started last Wednesday in Toronto if he did not get hurt, and there was talk he might have returned during the four-game series with the Chicago White Sox.

Last Monday, Tanaka threw on flat ground. “We wanted to make sure that he felt good and he could go through all the things that he needed to go through”.

“He hasn’t told me that directly, so I can’t comment at this stage”, Tanaka said. He began this season by struggling on Opening Day and wound up on the DL for a month with a forearm and wrist injury.

Rodriguez (9-6, 3.97 ERA) takes the hill looking to extend a string of 29 consecutive scoreless innings by Boston pitchers.