TORONTO — The Yankees are confident Masahiro Tanaka’s next start won’t have to wait until the wild-card game or the opening tilt of the ALDS.
“I am not worried about him, it’s just a matter of slotting him,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said of the staff ace, who is nursing a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and hasn’t pitched since Friday night against the Mets at Citi Field.
One thing is clear, if healthy, Tanaka will be the first postseason starter, no matter the situation.
“He will be the first guy to get the ball,’’ Cashman said.
Manager Joe Girardi sounded optimistic Tanaka is making progress.
“He is feeling better. We will have him examined by our doctor [Thursday],’’ said Girardi, who was forced to bring the struggling Ivan Nova out of the bullpen to start Wednesday night against the Blue Jays because of Tanaka’s injury. Nova pitched well in his first start since Sept. 12, allowing one run on four hits in 5 ²/₃ innings, but the Yankees still lost, 4-0.
“We will try and get [Tanaka] on the mound as soon as we can,” Girardi said. “He feels pretty good. Obviously, he hasn’t thrown a bullpen [session] or done the PFPs [pitcher’s fielding practice], but we are encouraged with the way he feels.’’
Tanaka is 12-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 23 starts.
With the wild card looking like the only way the Yankees can reach the postseason, Girardi was asked if he would line Tanaka up to start the one-game playoff if he is healthy.
“When he is ready to pitch, we are going to pitch him. That’s something that is a thought process,’’ Girardi said. “We don’t have anything clinched, so we have to win games.’’
In their last 10 games, Yankees pitchers have held opposing hitters to a .141 (9-for-64) average with runners in scoring position. Toronto was 2-for-8 on Wednesday.
Yankees hitting coach Jeff Pentland spent extra time with Alex Rodriguez and Chase Headley in the indoor batting cage before regular batting practice Wednesday.
Headley, who had been in a 2-for-31 (.065) slump, went 1-for-3 Wednesday as the Yankees were held to just six hits by Marcus Stroman and two relievers.
In the past, when Rodriguez got a rest, either because the designated hitter wasn’t used in NL parks or Girardi gave him a game off, he has returned and hit well.
Since returning to the lineup after pinch hitting for three games against the Mets last week, Rodriguez is 2 for 12 (.167) with four strikeouts in two games against the Blue Jays. He went 1 for 4 with a ninth-inning leadoff double on Wednesday.
“I feel just fine,’’ Rodriguez said. “I had some swings I thought I could have done damage with.’’
The lineup cards on the chair in front of each Yankees’ locker Wednesday had a picture of Yogi Berra serving as a backdrop. The players also wore a No. 8 patch on their left sleeves.
Slade Heathcott was hobbling around the clubhouse after fouling a pitch off his right foot during a ninth-inning at-bat in which he was called out on strikes. He said he would be fine. … Didi Gregorius also fouled a ball off his right shin in the eighth, but he stayed in the game.
