Masahiro Tanaka To Start Regular Season Opener For New York
Luis Severino was supposed to be the opening day starter for New York when they host Baltimore but there have been a change of plans.
Masahiro Tanaka will assume the responsibility of serving as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter for the fourth time, accepting the ball for the club’s March 28 contest against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the announcement on Saturday in Sarasota, Fla., saying that left-handers James Paxton and J.A. Happ will follow Tanaka in the rotation. Tanaka will be making the start in place of right-hander Luis Severino, who will begin the year on the injured list due to an inflamed right rotator cuff. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
“It’s a little bit different from the previous three Opening Days, just because Sevy got hurt this time,” Tanaka said through an interpreter. “However, it’s a special day. To be able to pitch the first game of baseball, it’s an honor. I’d like to go out there and give my best performance to give a good boost for the team to start out on a good note.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
This is Tanaka's fourth career Opening Day assignment. He accepted those honors in 2015, '16 and '17; the Yankees lost all three of those games to the Blue Jays, Astros and Rays, with Tanaka twice taking losses. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
"Masa is the guy we're comfortable with in those situations," Boone said. "Opening Day, to me, is always more of a celebration. Ultimately, though, it's only one game." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
The 30-year-old Tanaka was 12-6 with a 3.75 ERA and one complete game in 27 starts for New York last season, ranking seventh among American League pitchers with a 4.54 K/BB ratio and ninth with a 2.02 BB/9.0 IP ratio. Tanaka said he has been honing a knuckle-curve this spring, which he plans on using to replace his old curveball. He believes that his past postseason battles should help keep his emotions in check. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
“I think it comes down to experience to be able to perform on Opening Day,” Tanaka said. “Through the years, I have had the opportunity to experience playoff games, pitching at big games. I have that experience under my belt. Going in to this Opening Day, I think that experience will help me perform better.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
Paxton, 30, will be making his Yankees debut when he takes the ball for the first time. He was acquired from the Mariners in November, having gone 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 starts for Seattle, including a no-hitter in Toronto on May 8, 2018. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
"As a staff, we just need to come together, bring our best and just give the team a chance to win every time we go out there," Paxton said. "We've got some good depth. We've got some good young guys that I think will step in and fill that hole for us until Sevy gets healthy. Hopefully it's not too long that he's out." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
Left, right, left
Boone said he isn't going to be overly concerned with organizing the pitching staff to split the right-handers with left-handers. That is already evident with him scheduling Paxton and Happ in back-to-back games at the start of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter
"Some of it is that they have different looks," Boone said. "Also, our rotation has three lefties in it anyway, so as the season unfolds obviously things get jumbled. So I wasn't married to the idea of splitting things up “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-named-opening-day-starter