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Three years ago, Masahiro Tanaka pulled a hamstring while running out a bunt during a game against the Mets. The first game of the Subway Series kicked off last night, and Tanaka suffered a similar fate. After reaching on a fielding error in the sixth inning, he moved to second on a single, then took third as Brett Gardner walked to load the bases. Tanaka tagged up, then awkwardly scored on an Aaron Judge sac fly. He was immediately lifted from the game, but Yankees fans hoped that the move was just precautionary.
It wasn’t.
The Yankees announced that Tanaka has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with mild strains of both his left and right hamstrings. It’s almost like it’s a bad idea for AL pitchers to pretend to be good at hitting and baserunning twice a year.
Ronald Torreyes has been recalled from Triple-A as the corresponding move, but he obviously won’t help fill this hopefully short-term hole in the rotation. The Yankees don’t have too many internal options to choose from at the moment, since Domingo German is already filling Jordan Montgomery’s rotation spot. In the long run, they could try Adam Warren as a starter again. He is not currently stretched out, though. Chance Adams has been largely terrible in Scranton this season, and Justus Sheffield only has 27 Triple-A innings under his belt.
Fingers crossed that Tanaka will be ready to return as soon as possible.
Update:
Aaron Boone said that Masahiro Tanaka will miss “weeks,” but that it is “very possible” he returns before the All-Star break.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 9, 2018