MAS' EFFECT
Tanaka's resurgence should make him pick for Yanks' biggest starts
T HE Yankees essentially are in playoff mode now as they try to mount a long-shot run to win the AL East while simultaneously attempting to hold on to the top wild-card spot against a running-of-the-bulls type stampede behind them.
So in this dramatic, traumatic forum, who do you feel best starting a game for the Yankees?
If your answer, like mine, is Masahiro Tanaka, then if the Yankees are hosting the wild-card game a month from now — Oct. 3— shouldn’t the righty be the choice for that suddendeath contest?
Of course, there is a long way to go to make that decision, and if the Yankees have to win Games 161 or 162, then the choice might be dictated to manager Joe Girardi by who is available.
But that Tanaka is a desirable choice again to start that game — that he tipped his hat to a standing ovation from 46,536 at Yankee Stadium as he exited in the eighth inning of a 5-1 triumph Saturday over the Red Sox — has raised the chances that the Yankees get to at least Oct. 3.
In fact, after a season in which the debate often was whether the offense or bullpen was the Yankees’ greatest strength, right now, it is arguably their rotation. Tanaka, Sonny Gray, Luis Severino and CC Sabathia all are pitching well. Over the past 20 games, the starters are 9-5 with a 2.88 ERA — and at a time when the Yankees are in postseason mode, having a strong start almost daily is close to invaluable to get to the actual postseason.
“It’s as important as anything,” Girardi said.
Tanaka gave the Yankees sevenplus innings of groundball-machine work Saturday. His fastball and split particularly tantalized the Red Sox down in the zone as he dropped his ERA to 2.14 in three starts since returning from a respite on the disabled list for an inflamed shoulder.
That helped the Yankees go to 10-8 against the Red Sox and clinch a victory in the season series. To get within 3 ¹ /2 games of first, they will have to win Sunday night with Boston starting Chris Sale.
The Yankees actually are 3-1 when Sale starts against them this year, though he has been brilliant. It is reminiscent of how the Yankees won so often in games Pedro Martinez started against them in his Red Sox prime. The building block was a strong counter-start against Martinez and Tanaka, Severino, Jordan Montgomery and Sabathia have excelled in that assignment versus Sale. Severino gets a second crack Sunday on national TV.
On the basis of a full season of work, Severino should get a wildcard start if the Yankees get there. He is the Yankee most likely to author a dominant performance. But he also is the only one of the Yankees’ main four starters never to appear in a postseason game. And, for me, when Tanaka is right, like he is now, he is the starter most likely not to let a game get away from the Yankees.
It is what I always admired about Orlando Hernandez in the playoffs. He might dominate, but at worse when he came out of the game, the Yankees still had a chance at victory and in a win-or-go-home game there is perhaps no more critical element.
“He’s been an ace,” said Matt Holliday, whose sixth-inning, three-run homer broke a 1-1 tie and gave Tanaka breathing room. “He’s been pitching like an ace. It gives you a chance to win. It’s always easier to win when you’ve got a guy that’s giving you seven quality innings. As an offense, it gives you a chance to add on if you’ve got a lead or come back if you’re down early.”
Tanaka has now pitched seven innings in each of his three starts since a disabled-list stint that he says refreshed and strengthened his arm. His ERA is 2.73 in his last eight starts.
On Saturday, Tanaka had just three fly-ball outs to the outfield, two of those went hit to the warning track by Hanley Ramirez. They were the kind that flew out and wrecked the first half of Tanaka’s homer-plagued season.
Operating with greater command in the lower part of the strike zone has enabled Tanaka to limit damage. He permitted five hits to the Red Sox, a double and four singles, three of which were grounders too.
“I did have confidence in myself of coming through from the slump,” Tanaka said through an interpreter.
He is on the other side now, an asset down the stretch, again the guy the Yankees want to have the ball in big moments — in September or October.