Masahiro Tanaka Isn’t the Yankees Opening Day Starter… Yet

Obviously the New York Yankees would like to have Masahiro Tanaka healthy and ready to pitch on Opening Day for the second straight season.  

However, after two bullpen sessions so far this spring, we learned that Tanaka isn’t quite a lock to lead the Yankees onto the field and kick off the season against Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros on April 4th.

Tanaka had surgery in the off-season to shave down a bone spur in his pitching elbow and he spent significant time on the DL with a right forearm strain last season. Of course that was all just one-year removed from suffering a slight-tear in his UCL and opting not to get tommy john surgery to repair it.

After a slow start to spring training, Larry Rothschild was asked whether or not he would name Tanaka the opening day starter;

"“I really don’t know right now. I have taken the schedule out a little ways, but with guys like him I would rather see each progression and not put a timetable on it,’’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild told George King III of the New York Post. “We will progress him and obviously it’s a real possibility, but until I get down the path a little bit, I am not going to know that.’’"

Similar to Rothschild, skipper Joe Girardi isn’t quite convinced that Tanaka will be his Opening Day starter either;

"“In a normal spring training, if you knew where everyone was supposed to be, it’s usually mapped out before you even get to camp,’’ Girardi said of the regular-season rotation. “Unless there is a competition, number one. Two, unless there are people coming off injuries and you are not sure exactly where they are at. I think we are more in the latter where you are not exactly sure and you want to see where guys are at and you go from there. Let’s see where we are at before we map it out.’’"

Related Story: Tanaka Already Behind in Spring Training

Fortunately, every grey cloud has a silver lining, and the good news is everything has been smooth sailing for the 27-year old right hander so far this spring. On Monday he threw 31 pitches in a bullpen sessions at ease, and his recovery from the bone spur surgery is progressing as scheduled.

Prior to Tanaka, CC Sabathia started six straight opening day’s for the New York Yankees. If Tanaka isn’t ready to go for the first week of April, my guess is the Yankees will probably turn to Michael Pineda on Opening Day, which would mark his first career start on the first day of the baseball season.