New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka has been slowly working his way back from a partially torn ligament in his elbow that has left him sidelined since July, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman isn't going to rush back his prized starter if he isn't ready.
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Tanaka is slated to have a rehab start on Monday and while Cashman said his next start after that could be on the big league level, he must first be 100 percent sure his ace is feeling good after Monday.
"He has to declare himself as healthy," Cashman said, according to ESPN.
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Tanaka is slated to throw a simulated game with instructional league players in Tampa at the Yankees' minor league facility.
New York may opt to continue Tanaka's rehab through the end of the season if there are any set-backs as the ace looks to avoid having to undergo Tommy John surgery on his partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, which has sidelined him since July 9.
The normal recovery time for Tommy John Surgery is between 12-18 months, and Tanaka is hoping that a slow and steady rehab process could help him avoid the procedure.
Tanaka, 25, had been dominant in Japan and was enjoying a great rookie season in the MLB, going 12-4 in 18 games with a 2.51 ERA, 1.005 WHIP and 135 strikeouts before the injury.
New York is entrenched in the middle of a wild-card race as it tries to avoid missing the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time in 20 years. The Yankee have won two straight games and open up a four-game set with a twin bill against the American League East-leading Orioles in Baltimore on Friday.
The Yankees (75-69) are four games out of the final AL wild-card spot currently held by the Detroit Tigers (80-66) while the Toronto Blue Jays (76-69), Cleveland Indians (76-69) and Seattle Mariners (79-66) are all in front of them.
It remains to be seen if Tanaka will pitch again this season, but more will be known about his recovery after Monday.
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