The NY Yankees could get Masahiro Tanaka back next month after the pitcher was placed on the 15-day DL with a forearm injury and his return should come in June, but no timetable has been set and this comes as Michael Pineda has been a steady replacement in the New York rotation and for fantasy owners, going 5-0 to start the year.
Tanaka was placed on the disabled list last month with a strained forearm and wrist tendinitis and at the time general manager Brian Cashman said Tanaka would be out for at least a month. According to Hardball Talk, Cashman was being "conservative" in his estimation and no timetable has been set for Tanaka to come back, but the report says he is not expected back before June.
MLB.com reported earlier in the week that Tanaka was able to throw from 60-feet on flat ground without any issues and he threw 30 pitches while working out in Florida. Tanaka was quoted saying that he "didn't feel anything" wrong with his arm after the pitching session and that is a good sign, as he will likely make a rehab start before going back to the majors.
Tanaka was off to a solid start this season while starting four games and putting up a 3.22 ERA and a 2-1 record with 24 strikeouts in 22 innings. Tanaka was one of the leading candidates for the Cy Young last season when he went down with an injury and now he has had DL stints in his first two seasons with the Yankees. Last year Tanaka was 13-5 in 20 starts with the team, putting up a 2.77 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 136.1 innings pitched.
Tanaka is set for a bullpen session next week and the results of that will be a major sign pointing to when he will return. The Yankees need Tanaka if they want to make the playoffs, although they have started the season in first place in the AL East despite his injury. Michael Pineda has been fantastic and he was 5-0 after striking out 16 batters in his last start before pitching Friday against the Royals.
Pineda was roughed up, but he has been great otherwise this year and it worth a look even after his bad start against the Royals. Tanaka is dealing with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and that has fans and the Yankees worried he may need Tommy John surgery at some point.
Coming into his start against the Royals, Pineda was undefeated in seven starts this season and he has had 54 strikeouts in 46 innings and a 2.72 ERA. Pineda is likely picked up in most leagues, but if he is available he is worth a shot and for anyone with Tanaka, fantasy owners could try and bring in Pineda until he returns. The Yankees are playing solid baseball this season and even with the loss on Tuesday to the Rays, the team is in the division lead.
The fact that the team is doing this without Tanaka is impressive and also coupled with the fact that CC Sabathia just earned his first win of the season. Nathan Eovaldi has done enough and the bullpen has been fantastic with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. The Yankees are 21-16 this season and they are leading the Rays in the division by one game after losing to the Royals.