HIRO GETS HAMMERED
Tanaka rocked by Rangers, bringing up more questions for Yankee rotation
Masahiro Tanaka's body language said it all Friday night.
As the ball left Ronald Guzman's bat, the Yankees righthander never looked up or turned around to watch the ball. Tanaka's head dropped, his shoulders drooped as he stared at the ground for a few seconds while the Rangers' first baseman rounded the bases.
After being the Yankees' best pitcher over the last month, Tanaka could not find it Friday night, getting lit up for six runs on six hits in five innings. He took his first loss in 15 starts, dating back to April 17, with the Yankees' 12-7 loss to the Rangers at the Stadium.
Tanaka gave up three home runs — two to Guzman, who became the first Rangers' rookie to hit three homers in a game — in just five innings plus one batter of work. In his five previous starts, dating to his July 10th return from the disabled list, Tanaka had allowed a total of three home runs in 30.1 innings pitched.
And that throws a wrench into the Yankees' rotation in the final weeks of the season.
They loaded up at the trade deadline with J.A. Happ and Lance Lynn to try and shore up a rotation that was shaky after their top two of Luis Severino and Tanaka. So now that Severino has been shaken up over the last month, they have to hope Friday was just a blip for Tanaka.
“You are going to have ones like that every now and then,” Yankee manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought he battled going back out there for the sixth, just trying to save some pen for us a little
bit…..He’s been so sharp, so sharp espe- cially with his secondary stuff with his slider and split and it’s just, (tonight he was) not as sharp with that.”
The Yankees are nine games behind Boston in the division and are likely looking at having to get through the one-game Wild Card to start any playoff run. They held a 4.5 game lead over the A’s for the top wild card spot, and the home field advantage that comes with it.
They need their rotation to settle in down the stretch as they plan out who will get that first start in the postseason and who will get the first start of a division series, if they get there. Until Friday night, Tanaka was the reliable starter holding down the rotation for the Yankees.
The 29-year-old went into Friday night’s start on a roll. Since coming off the disabled list (after mildly straining both his hamstrings running the bases against the Mets), Tanaka had pitched to a 1.79 ERA over 30.1 innings. He struck out 36 and walked seven in that span, going 2-0.
Of course, Tanaka had also shown that he likes to step up on the big stage. Last season, he was brilliant in the American League Championship Series against the Astros, including pitching seven scoreless in Game 5.
Tanaka did not make his case Friday night, but he still has time to pitch his way into that conversation.
Tanaka said he is not worried about this carrying over.
“I have an idea. I thought about it after I came off the mound and I am not here to explain everything, but I have an idea of what’s wrong,” Tanaka said through an interpreter. “So I will make an adjustment (for) my next start.”
That has to be reassuring to the Yankees, because they have questions about their rotation heading down the stretch.
Before the All-Star game, Severino was arguably the best pitcher in baseball, dominating with a 1.98 ERA over his first 18 starts. He struck out 138 and walked just 29 in 118.1 innings pitched, going 13-2. He allowed just six homers in that span.
In his last six starts, however, Severino has looked like a completely different pitcher. The 24-year-old has struggled, allowing nine homers in just 32.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 29 and walked seven in that span.
The Yankees need an ace to step forward as they try to solidify their postseason plans. Friday night just added more questions than answers as they head down the stretch.