A ’Hiro’s welcome

Yanks hope Tanaka found fastball command on DL

BALTIMORE — Masahiro Tanaka will rejoin a Yankees rotation Tuesday that could use some help.

It’s unclear just how much assistance Tanaka will provide.

Before missing nearly a month with mild strains to both hamstrings suffered while running the bases against the Mets at Citi Field on June 8, Tanaka was in the midst of a rough six-start stretch in which he pitched to a 4.83 ERA and gave up a whopping 10 homers in just 31 2/3 innings.

Tanaka and Aaron Boone both hope the stint on the disabled list will have multiple benefits.

“Hopefully this little break in the action for him not only heals up the injuries he’s been dealing with, but also saves some bullets, freshens him up with a little less wear and tear on his arm,’’ the manager said. “Four weeks down in the middle of the season is maybe not the end of the world. He can be recharged and I believe be an impact guy for us in the final months.’’

“It could be [a good thing],’’ Tanaka said through an interpreter before the Yankees played a doubleheader Monday at Camden Yards. “What you want to do when the season is over is [be able to] look back and say you had a very good finish to season because of time off you had.’’

That’s very much up in the air to this point.

Through 13 outings, Tanaka has given up fewer hits than he has since 2015, but his walks are up and he’s allowing even more home runs than last season.

Physically, Tanaka said he’s fine following a 48-pitch simulated game in Tampa and a rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Boone said while Tanaka isn’t completely built back up, he should be able to throw 85-90 pitches.

“I still think it’s about his fastball,’’ Boone said. “When he can throw his fastball where he wants to, then it sets up everything else. His breaking ball [and] split are really difficult to deal with.”

But that fastball command hasn’t always been reliable.

“He’s got to be sharp with his fastball, otherwise that’s a pitch guys tend to slug against him,’’ Boone said. “When it’s up and out over the plate, he’s not overpowering with that pitch and there’s not a lot of margin for error.”

He’s had more of a margin for error at times this season because of some enviable run support.

In a six-start stretch in April and May, the Yankees scored at least six runs five times — and the Yankees won each time they reached that mark.

AP BEAT THE HEAT: Masahiro Tanaka, throwing a bullpen session in Toronto in June, has allowed home runs at a higher rate than last year, due in part to a lack of command on his fastball.