Tanaka’s49 turn on hot seat

Masahiro Tanaka added another twist to the Yankees deliberations about which of their pitchers should start an American League wild-card game. No, the Yankees right-hander did not dominate the Red Sox like J.A. Happ and Luis Severino had done the previous two nights.

Tanaka went just four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. He struck out three and gave up a home run in the Yankees’ 11-6 loss.

Aaron Boone dismissed the impact of one start.

“Probably not that much. We have so much confidence in Masa, especially in a big spot, so our decision, I think will hopefully be one made from strength,” Boone said. “We’re deciding between a lot of good options. Masa is right in that consideration. This doesn’t make me think he’s not going to do well in a big spot, in a play-in game.”

In fact, maybe this was a sign that Tanaka should start against (most likely) the A’s — with a very short leash — in the wild-card game and let Happ and Severino go in the first two games of the division series.

Happ put up six innings of one-run ball on Tuesday and Severino upped the ante on Wednesday. He went seven, allowing one run in his best start of the second half.

They’ve proven most recently they can handle this Red Sox lineup.

Tanaka also has proven himself on the big stage of the playoffs. He pitched seven scoreless innings against Cleveland in the ALDS in 2017 and allowing just two runs to the Astros in 13 innings pitched in the Championship Series.

By comparison, Severino was pulled in a disastrous first inning of the 2017 wild card.

VOIT STAYS HOT

Luke Voit’s second-inning home run was his 10th as a Yankee and a record-setter. The tworun shot off Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez was the 246th, breaking the Yankees’ record of 245 for homers in a season set in 2012. With Giancarlo Stanton’s grand slam in the fourth, the Yankees now have 247.

They are currently seventh in major-league history and on pace to hit 263 — one shy of the major-league record set in 1997 by the Mariners.

CHAPMAN BACK

Aroldis Chapman came in to pitch the eighth inning, his first appearance since going on the disabled list Aug. 22 with left knee tendinitis. He missed 25 games and his command was clearly off.

Rafael Devers singled and Chapman walked Jackie Bradley, Jr. before giving up a home run to Mookie Betts.

“I feel good, that’s the most important thing,” Chapman said through the team translator. “The other stuff we can work on.”