Masahiro Tanaka

New York Yankees: How Did Players Fare In The All-Star Game

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New York Yankees, Aroldis Chapman

Tuesday evening was the MLB All-Star game, and all five New York Yankees players selected to the team played and had an impact. Keep reading to find out what each player did in the game.

DJ LeMahieu

DJ went 0-for-2 in the game, but played clean defense in his four and a half innings of play. He grounded out to the pitcher in both at-bats.

Gary Sanchez

Gary Sanchez went 1-for-2 and caught a solid half game. He ripped a double to left in the fifth inning and flied out earlier in the game.

Gleyber Torres

Gleyber Torres pinch-hit for DJ LeMahieu in the fifth, and went 1-for-2 in doing so. He struck out his first time up, but reached on an infield single his second time up to the plate.

Masahiro Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka pitched the second inning, allowing one hit but struck out one to kept the game scoreless. Gary Sanchez caught him as usual. Tanaka actually ended up as the winning pitcher, as the AL won 4-3.

Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman came in the ninth to get the save, and did so by striking out the side. It was actually a much needed inning of work, as this past week was a bit shaky for him on the mound.

It’s great that the Yankees players performed well at the all-star game, but now it’s time for the second half stretch run.

New York Yankees Starting Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka Selected To All-Star Game

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

In a rather surprising announcement, New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has been named to his second all-star game, replacing the injured Marcus Stroman. This is his first since 2014.

Tanaka, 30, has a 5-5 record with a 3.86 ERA over 105 innings. His season WAR is at 1.8 and his WHIP is at 1.18.

Let’s be honest here. A 3.86 ERA isn’t deserving of an all-star game. I love Tanaka in all, but he probably didn’t deserve it. I’m not sure he even thinks so. He said before Saturday’s game that “when you kind of look at your stats and things like that… that’s why I was surprised.”

A lot of Tanaka’s problem this year is consistency. He has eight starts with one run or less surrendered, and seven starts with four or more runs surrendered.

His last two starts haven’t been great and they really raised the ERA. He gave up six runs to Boston in less than an inning, and four runs to Tampa in 6 and 1/3 innings. His ERA was at 3.21 prior to his June 29th start against Boston.

Overall, I’m really happy for Masahiro, but he probably wasn’t good enough to deserve a nod for the game.

New York Yankees: Tanaka Solid Again, This Time Against Astros

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

For the second straight start, New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka was solid, leading the team to their eighth straight win.

A start removed from a two hit shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tanaka went six innings and gave up just two runs. He threw 88 pitches and gave up eight hits, but registered just one strikeout.

Tanaka’s stuff wasn’t lights out like against Tampa Bay, but he instead did a great job in hitting his spots to get weak contact. Austin Romine caught today while Gary Sanchez was the DH, and Romine called a fantastic game.

Tanaka picked up his third win in as many starts, and lowered his ERA to 3.21. To begin the year, he wasn’t getting much run support, but that has changed as the season has progressed.

The Yankees eight straight wins have extended their AL East lead to 5.5 games after being tied just days ago with the Tampa Bay Rays. Not just that, the Yankees have taken their first three with the Astros. Remember, earlier in the season, the Astros swept a three game set with the Yankees.

The team is avenging their early season losses and gaining ground on Houston in the playoff seeding hunt.

 

New York Yankees: Is Masahiro Tanaka back playing his best baseball?

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

There’s one reality when it comes to New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, he’s inconsistent, but when he’s on, there’s nobody in the MLB that can hit against him.

Tanaka proved that on Monday night as he pitched a complete game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the only team neck and neck with the Yankees for the lead in the AL East. A 3-0 victory in which Tanaka threw 111 pitches allowing just two hits and one walk. He struck out 10 in a dominant performance that kicked off an important series against the Rays.

In a week where the Yankees traded for first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, Masahiro stole the headlines, showing why he deserves to be considered an ace. However, there’s something interesting about the Japanese gun-slinger. He seems to lose his control in normal games but when the stakes are high he rises to the occasion.

“It was big,” Aaron Boone said. “Pax threw the ball well [Sunday]. And for Masa to come out and kick off this homestand against the Rays, who are a really good team over there, a lot of guys in that lineup who can hurt you, it was huge. You need performances like that sprinkled throughout the year to preserve guys and it becomes a big reset day when you have that kind of performance.”

The New York Yankees need Tanaka to continue dominating:

It’s important he pitches consistently well throughout the course of the season, something his 5-5 record doesn’t necessarily indicate. He does have a 3.23 ERA with 33 runs allows over 92 innings pitched. With the Bombers having a spotty starting rotation, it’s important that Tanaka sets the tone moving forward and executes on a normal basis.

His ungodly slider has come crashing back down to mortal status at times, and he didn’t even believe he displayed his best stuff against the Rays, stating:

“My stuff wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be tonight.”

“I feel like I was a bit lucky today.”

With a 2.3 fWAR, right on par with Justin Verlander, Tanaka has the potential to be considered one of the most efficient pitchers in baseball. However, he gives up too many home runs, which is the only statistic that keeps him from reaching elite status (1.3 HR/9 for his career, 1.4 last season).

His fastball speed has dropped off a bit – by 0.4 MPH. In 2018, he featured a 92.2 MPH average fastball and this season it has dropped to 91.8 MPH. There’s plenty of room for improvement as the season continues on, and we should expect him to gradually up his efficiency.

 

New York Yankees setting sights on Nationals star Max Scherzer?

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Could the New York Yankees pursue Max Scherzer in a trade?

The New York Yankees have a pitching problem, and it’s not just their bullpen that has struggled as of late, it’s the starters as well. Masahiro Tanaka has lost touch of his renowned splitter, James Paxton has been playing through a knee injury, CC Sabathia has inflammation in his knee, and Domingo German was placed on the 10-day injured list.

Again, the Yankees can’t catch a break with the injury bug, and it may force their hand as we approach the trade deadline. Losing out on former Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel certainly hurt, but rumors have stated the Bombers might be looking into a potential trade for Nationals star pitcher, Max Scherzer.

It’s possible the New York Yankees pursue Scherzer:

Considering the fact that Nationals are sub-.500, it makes sense that they would be open to trading the pitcher. The Yanks have one of the best youth systems in baseball, and they have plenty of resources to push a deal through.

The 12-year veteran is 4-5 on the season but is pitching 2.83 with little run support. Last year, he earned an astounding 18 total wins with a 2.53 ERA. There’s no question he’s a premium talent player, my concern is his price tag.

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The Nationals might ask too much from the Yanks for their ace, but it’s coming to a point where the Yankees are losing their leverage as the starting rotation is running thin. It will take several months before the regular starters are back in their normal slots, but it seems as if Brian Cashman believes they can weather the storm.

Theoretically, the Yankees just need to make the playoffs, and they’re seemingly on track at the moment. Not paying top-dollar for a quality pitcher can be justified if they continue to win a majority of games. The problem is – even run support can’t supplement bad pitching at times.

 

New York Yankees Lose To Diamondbacks Despite Out-Hitting Them

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

The New York Yankees only allowed five hits, but it was enough for the Diamondbacks to hold off a late Yankee rally and win, 3-2.

Voit does it again

Luke Voit hit another home run to lead the limited Yankee offense on Wednesday. His home run was a 398 foot shot to left for his ninth of the season. This came in the sixth inning, and put the Yankees on the board.

Mike Tauchman was responsible for scoring the second and final run, an RBI single in the eighth to make it a 3-2 game.

Gardner, Sanchez, Torres, Urshela, and Maybin also had hits for the Yankees. Nobody had multiple hits, but Voit, Tauchman, and Maybin each reached multiple times. Voit’s on-base streak was extended to 41 games.

A short afternoon for Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka was a bit off on Wednesday, and with the NL rules only lasted four innings. Mike Ford pinch-hit for him in the fifth, and drew a walk.

Tanaka allowed five hits and three runs over four innings, striking out six. He walked one and gave up one home run.

Tanaka got three ground-balls and three fly-balls, also getting first pitch strikes to 12 of the 18 batters he faced. He also got 11 swings and misses, which is really good for four innings.

But now, Tanaka can get a bit of rest for his home start in about a week. A short outing Wednesday added with two off-days this week will help him in the long run.

The bullpen stepped up

The bullpen had a really good showing on Wednesday in relief of Tanaka. They didn’t allow a hit over four innings.

Luis Cessa pitched the fifth and sixth, walking one and picking up three strikeouts. Cessa is an entirely different pitcher than last year, which is very helpful with all of the injuries.

Tommy Kahnle and Adam Ottavino each followed with 1-2-3 innings. Kahnle is also having a great year so far. His velocity is back, and he is looking like he did in 2017. I just wish that Aaron Boone would pitch him in higher leverage situations.

After an off-day on Thursday, the Yankees head home to take on the 17-10 Minnesota Twins in a 7:05PM start. As usual, the game will be televised on YES and Fox Sports Go.  James Paxton (3-2, 3.38 ERA) gets the ball for the Yankees against Kyle Gibson (2-0, 4.88 ERA) of the Twins. Gibson has won his last two starts, both against Baltimore.

New York Yankees: Tanaka’s Rough Start Ends Win Streak At Six

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka gave up two fifth inning home runs, as the Angels climbed out of a 4-0 deficit to win 11-5.

Couldn’t keep it down

Tanaka had a lot of trouble keeping the ball on the ground on Thursday. Along with the home runs, hitters got nine fly-balls off of him, to just five ground-balls. He also only struck out two, which isn’t normal for him. Tanaka is usually good for at least six strikeouts.

He was also quite wild, walking three and throwing balls 38% of the time. Tanaka only got one swing and miss on the game.

Tanaka gave up six runs (five earned) over 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing six hits.

So overall, Tanaka was just off a bit on Thursday. It’s gonna happen to all pitchers, and you just have to live with it. He’ll bounce back on Wednesday at Arizona. Let’s just hope he doesn’t hurt himself running the bases this year.

Boone didn’t handle his bullpen right

The way that Yankees skipper Aaron Boone handled the bullpen on Thursday left a lot of people asking questions.

He had Jonathan Holder get just one out, before Stephen Tarpley and Joe Harvey gave up a combined five runs in the seventh inning. Before the runs scored, the Yankees only trailed by two.

Once the game seemed out of reach, he put in Tommy Kahnle, who has an ERA under two.

Why not go with Kahnle earlier on, or other high leverage guys like Zack Britton. It was unlikely that Chapman would of pitched on Thursday, as he pitched two of the prior three games.

Also, Boone could of went with Holder, who is beginning to improve from the beginning of the season. Situations like Thursday make you wish more and more that Chad Green wasn’t struggling and that Dellin Betances wasn’t injured.

Luke’s gettin’ hot

After a slowish start to the season, Luke Voit is red hot. He went 3-for-5 last night, and his average now sits at .255. Voit has reached base the last 36 games, and has gotten a hit in the last 12.

DJ LeMahieu also added two hits and drove in a run. Gardner, Torres, Urshela, and Wade each had hits in the game.

Urshela’s hit left the yard for his first Yankee home run, and his average now sits at .283. Tyler Wade has been contributing well to the Yankees, playing solid defense and getting on base.

Early in Thursday’s game, Wade singled then stole second and third on back-to-back pitches. The next pitch scored Wade on a single by LeMahieu.

The Yankees now head up to San Francisco for their first interleague series of the season. Game time is at 10:15PM (ET) on Friday on YES and Fox Sports Go. James Paxton gets the ball for the Yankees against Madison Bumgarner of the Giants.

 

New York Yankees: Judge Injured as Yankees Blow Out Royals

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

You can’t make this stuff up.

On an opposite field single in the sixth, the New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge felt a pull in his oblique and was removed from the game. He will get an MRI, and Aaron Boone said after the game that it will almost certainly be an IL-stint.

In good news, the Yankees picked up a 9-2 win over the Royals. It got the Yankees back to .500 through 20 games.

Hits all around

The Yankees collected 14 hits all together, with multiple hits from four players. Clint Frazier and Giovanny Urshela each had three.

Judge got it going early before his injury, with a solo-shot to right in the first. Then, Clint Frazier led off the second with a solo-shot of his own.

In the third inning, Gleyber Torres hit one over the wall that was ruled a home run. After a review, it was deemed to be a fan interference, and he was called out. Aaron Boone wasn’t very happy about the call, and was thrown out for the first time in 2019. The score stayed 2-0.

Mike Tauchman made up for it in the next inning, belting a three-run home run to right. The pitch after, DJ LeMahieu had his first Yankee home run for back-to-back jacks.

In the sixth, Gleyber Torres and Frazier had back-to-back RBI singles, and Austin Romine knocked one in on an infield single in the seventh to conclude the scoring.

Seven strong

Masahiro Tanaka pitched seven strong innings, giving up just four hits and a run.

Tanaka fanned seven, but put three on base with walks. He worked seven ground-balls and five fly-balls, also getting twelve swing-and-misses.

Tanaka picked up his second win of the season in five starts, but only his previous start was a bad start. His ERA is now at 2.76 through 29.1 innings.

Jonathan Holder came in to get the last six outs, and gave up a solo home run in the ninth.

The final game of this four game set with Kansas City will take place on Easter Sunday at 1:05PM. The game will be on YES Network and FOX Sports Go. James Paxton gets the ball for the Yankees against Jorge Lopez of the Royals.

New York Yankees: Tanaka Allows Fourth Inning Grand Slam as Yankees fall to White Sox

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

After Masahiro Tanaka allowed a double and two walks, the New York Yankees’ Japanese righty gave up a grand slam to White Sox shortstop Tim Beckham. The Yankees couldn’t recover from it, losing yet another series to a poor team.

A good start turned bad quick

Masahiro Tanaka started off his fourth start of the season pretty well, but it changed quickly with the grand slam. He allowed just one hit through the first three innings.

To start the fourth, Yoan Moncada hit one to Aaron Judge for a single, but Judge threw him out at second with ease as Moncada tried to test him. But right after, Jose Abreu doubled and two straight walks to Yonder Alonso and Eloy Jimenez set up Anderson for his grand slam.

In the fifth, a single, double, and a walk by Tanaka loaded the bases again. That was enough for Boone to pull him, putting Luis Cessa in. He allowed a sacrifice fly that scored a run, but got out of it without further damage.

In 4+ innings, Tanaka allowed five runs, seven hits, and struck out six but walked three. His ERA rose to 3.22.

Cessa pitched 1 and 1/3 scoreless innings to his name, then Kahnle came in for the final two outs of the sixth. Adam Ottavino, Joe Harvey, and Chad Green followed with scoreless innings.

Terrible offense

The Yankee offense scored two runs on Sunday, and those didn’t even come easy. They had just four hits.

Luke Voit started it early with an RBI double in the first, and Aaron Judge had an RBI single in the third. That was it.

The four hits came from Judge, Voit, Torres, and Urshela who each had one. Giovanny Urshela is showing he belongs on the Yankee roster, showing off his glove whilst batting .313 so far.

After a day off on Monday, the Yankees begin a two game series with our good friends from Boston. Game one begins on Tuesday at 6:35PM on YES Network and FOX Sports Go. James Paxton gets the ball for the Yankees against Chris Sale for the Red Sox.

 

New York Yankees Blow Late Lead in Loss to Astros

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New York Yankees, Zach Britton

The New York Yankees led 3-1 while going into the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, but a two-run double from Robinson Chirinos tied it up at three. The runs came off Zack Britton, but the loss was charged to Adam Ottavino who gave up a run in the eighth. The Yankees had one last chance in the ninth, but lineouts to right by Aaron judge and Giovanny Urshela and a pop out by Brett Gardner sealed the loss for the Bronx Bombers.

Judge getting his power

Aaron Judge hit a line drive home run to right for his third homerun in as many days. He went 2-for-3 as he also added a single. He hasn’t struck out since Saturday, which is a huge positive.

Clint Frazier kept up his hot bat on Monday, going 2-for-4 and clanking a line drive off the wall in left for an RBI. Since being called up, he is 9-for-21 and that includes going 0-for-3 and 1-for-3 in his first two games.

The other RBI came from Luke Voit on an RBI single. Despite under .200, he has been very productive at third in the order with two home runs and nine RBIs.

Masahiro Tanaka isn’t a pitcher; he’s an artist

For the third straight game, Masahiro Tanaka was fantastic. Tanaka threw six innings and just 78 pitches, 50 of which were strikes. He only struck out three, and gave up just three hits and one run. He was also able to get nine groundouts, something that the splitter and the slider make you do.

Tanaka’s one run given up was a 448-foot bomb by Jose Altuve who used all 5’6, 165 lbs of him to get that one as far as it went.  That was just the first home run given up by Tanaka this season.

The bullpen wasn’t great on Monday, Britton gave up two and Ottavino gave up one. The run off of Ottavino was on an infield single, and Carlos Correa beat it out with his lightning speed. The two runs off of Britton was from a deep double, which unsurprisingly Britton was unhappy about.

Game two of the series will take place on Tuesday at 8:00PM (ET) with Jonathan Loaisiga taking the ball for New York against Gerrit Cole of the Astros. The game will be on ESPN, YES Network, and FOX Sports Go.