Tanaka to make 100th start as Yankees host Mariners (Aug 27, 2017)
NEW YORK -- Masahiro Tanaka enjoyed a successful return from the disabled list and tremendous run support Tuesday.
Tanaka hopes to deliver a second straight effective outing and get some more run support Sunday when the New York Yankees conclude a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium.
The right-hander is making his 100th career start and second since returning from missing two weeks with right shoulder inflammation. In his return, Tanaka allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings during a 13-4 victory in Detroit on Tuesday.
"I felt good. I had a little bit of time off and there was no issue, no problem with the arm," Tanaka said through his translator. "I think I went through the process pretty well. I gradually built up the strength of it and got ready for the game, so I wasn't worried about it at all."
Tanaka is 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA in his last 10 starts. In his last 12 outings, the right-hander has totaled at least eight strikeouts six times.
One split to note for Tanaka, though it might be coincidental. He is 0-6 with an 11.81 ERA in his seven afternoon games as opposed to 9-4, 3.24 in his 12 nighttime outings.
Tanaka is 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA in six career starts against the Mariners. Seattle's current roster is batting .187 (17-for-91) and it includes Nelson Cruz (2-for-21) and Cano (4-for-19).
Cano might return from being held out of the starting lineup in the first two games because of mild tightness in his left hamstring. The second baseman has appeared as a pinch hitter so far.
"Robbie is getting better," Servais said Saturday. "We'll give it a go and see if we can get him in the lineup tomorrow and go from there."
The former Yankee struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth Friday against Dellin Betances. On Saturday, he grounded out with two on against Tommy Kahnle while representing the tying run.
If Cano does play, it likely will be the same process as Saturday. Cano tested his hamstring, consulted with Servais for a few minutes before Seattle's lineup was posted.
The Yankees evened the series with Saturday's 6-3 victory, which was highlighted by Greg Bird's long-awaited return a bruised right ankle along with four RBIs by Jacoby Ellsbury.
Bird singled and walked twice in his first game since May 1. Ellsbury hit a three-run homer and added an RBI single as the Yankees improved to 8-4 in their last 12 games.
Since both are left-handed hitters, they might not be in the starting lineup against Seattle left-hander Andrew Albers, who is making his third start and looking for a third straight win.
Albers won his 2017 debut by holding the Baltimore Orioles to one run and six hits in five innings and followed it up by allowing three runs and six hits in five innings of Monday's 6-5 victory in Atlanta.
Albers was acquired from the Braves on Aug. 11, which is the same day James Paxton injured his pectoral muscle.
He is the 16th starting pitcher used by the Mariners this season.
"He's been huge for us," catcher Mike Zunino said. "We've used a ton of guys this year. He knows how to attack guys. He's very well prepared. "
The left-hander is 4-5 in 19 career games (14 starts) but Sunday is his first career appearance against the Yankees. Despite not facing the Yankees, Albers has faced Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez in the minor leagues.
Last year when Albers was pitching for Triple-A Rochester in Minnesota's minor league system, Judge was 2-for-3 with a homer while Sanchez was 0-for-3.
