The Yankees will trot their best pitcher to the mound in the American League Wild Card Game, or at least that’s the plan.
Manager Joe Girardi told reporters Monday the club plans to pitch Masahiro Tanaka in the one-game playoff on Oct. 6 if the Yankees don’t overtake the Blue Jays in the AL East. Toronto currently holds a 4 1/2-game lead in the division with six games remaining.
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Tanaka, 26, missed his last start after suffering a hamstring strain while running the bases. He’ll test the hamstring Wednesday in a start against the Red Sox.
Tanaka is 12-7 and leads the team with a 3.38 ERA.