New York Yankees: Masahiro Tanaka Diagnosed with Mild Flexor Strain
The New York Yankees are right in the middle of the AL Wild Card race, sitting only three games back. They will have to continue that race without one of their best starting pitchers.
According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Masahiro Tanaka has been diagnosed with a mild flexor strain. The injury won’t allow Tanaka to throw for the next five days. This will cause Tanaka to miss at least one start. According to ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand, there is no apparent damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. This is good news for the Yankees considering Tanaka’s past.
Tanaka won't start Monday. Slight strain in flexor mass, but not near ligament. Won't throw for five days.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) September 22, 2016
During Tanaka’s rookie season, the right-hander partially tore his ulnar collateral ligament but decided to not get it surgically repaired. Tanaka has either pitched through the pain over the past two seasons or the ligament has healed. Missing Tanaka for one start will be detrimental to the Yankees’ chances of snagging that last AL Wild Card spot. They currently sit three games out of the last Wild Card berth, trailing the Orioles, Blue Jays, Astros, Tigers and Mariners.
According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, Tanaka does not feel that the injury is season-ending, saying he will come back strong from the injury before the season’s end. The Yankees will need Tanaka to come back strong and make one last start to keep the team’s chances of making the playoffs alive.
Tanaka: "I should be able to come back strong (this season) so I'm not really worried."
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) September 22, 2016
The Yankees’ rotation has been in shambles this season. The only pitchers that the team can count on being in the rotation next year are CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Masahiro Tanaka. They have a group of unproven arms including Luis Severino. The injury to Tanaka does not seem to be serious but in order for this team to compete for an AL East title next season, they need every one of their starters to throw well and stay healthy. The Yankees have a plethora of young talent but they need to be able to cement that group with a solid group of veterans to help the young talent grow.
Next: Rotation Overhaul Coming for Yanks?
The odds of the Yankees making the playoffs this season are very slim as of right now. They can change that with their four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend. If the Yankees can pull out three or four wins in that series, they will be in a good position to make a push over the last two series of the regular season. Look for the Yankees to put all their marbles on the table this weekend against the team from north of the border.