Last year, Masahiro Tanaka’s first start was an unmitigated disaster. The Yankees started 2017 on the road just like 2018 and they started their season in a dome just like 2018 only they were down in Tropicana Field facing the Rays and Tanaka did not last long. He surrendered seven runs on eight hits, including two home runs in only 2 2/3 innings of work. The Yankees lost the game 7-3 and the outing did not set a good tone for Tanaka and the rest of his season. 2017 turned out to be his worst season to date and he finished 13-12 with a 4.54 ERA. But, there was a positive for Tanaka. He started to get stronger at the end of the year and he performed well in the playoffs.
On Friday night, that playoff performance seemed to carry over into 2018. Tanaka gave up one run on three hits, struck out eight and walked one batter. Unfortunately, the one run was a home run off the bat of Randall Grichuk in the bottom of the second, but Tanaka didn’t let it phase him and he went on to set the Blue Jays down in order in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. All of Tanaka’s strikeouts were swinging and he had his slider working all night and he was finishing off batters with it. In the third inning, he struck out Devon Harris, Josh Donaldson, and Justin Smoak. He used his slider to get a swinging third strike on Donaldson and Smoak and used his splitter to get Smoak. The home run was off a four-seam fastball and most of the balls that made contact and were either hit for a double (Kevin Pillar and Steve Pearce) or an out were off Tanaka’s splitter*.
Courtesy of Statcast
Aaron Boone removed Tanaka after the sixth inning when he reached 79 pitches. Some people thought the hook was a bit early but Tanaka is still pitching on a UCL that’s precariously holding on for dear life so I trust his judgment and it ultimately didn’t come back to bite them in the end.
All in all, it was a much better performance for Tanaka and a good start to his season. Let’s hope it continues for the rest of the year.
*Pitch types are according to Statcast
Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports