Tanaka has gone from Yankees ace to team's most inconsistent starter
There hasn't been a lot going wrong for the New York Yankees during the 2017 campaign, as the club finished May atop the American League East standings, two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, who were considered the favorites to win the division by many at the beginning of the year.
While Aaron Judge is continuing to crush home runs at a Roger Maris-like pace and Luis Severino and Michael Pineda are pitching like everyone knew they could, Masahiro Tanaka is suffering through his worst season as a big leaguer since coming over from Japan prior to the 2014 season.
The 28-year-old "ace" of the Yankees' staff was shelled for seven earned runs on nine hits across 5 2/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles - who had lost eight of nine - on Wednesday.
Tanaka's outing pushed his ERA to 6.34, the highest in the American League among pitchers with at least 10 starts, behind only Jordan Zimmermann (6.47) of the Detroit Tigers, while giving him the highest ERA on the Yankees' starting staff.
| PITCHER | GS | W-L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masahiro Tanaka | 11 | 5-5 | 6.34 | 56 |
| Michael Pineda | 10 | 6-2 | 3.32 | 66 |
| CC Sabathia | 10 | 5-2 | 4.42 | 46 |
| Luis Severino | 10 | 4-2 | 2.93 | 69 |
| Jordan Montgomery | 9 | 2-4 | 4.11 | 48 |
It hasn't been all bad for Tanaka, but he's hardly looked like an ace, as he's battled through inconsistencies all season long.
Prior to Wednesday's debacle against Baltimore, Tanaka incredibly struck out 13 Oakland Athletics across 7 1/3, allowing just one earned run and walking none on 111 pitches.
After getting off to a shaky start to begin the year, the Japanese hurler pitched wonderfully in two consecutive starts to end April, which included a complete game shutout against the Red Sox where he allowed just three hits.
Aside from those three starts though, it's been a pretty glum season for Tanaka.
So where is he going wrong?
Based on velocity alone, Tanaka, who underwent elbow surgery in 2015, doesn't appear to be injured. He's actually throwing most of his pitches harder this season than in any other year, but the right-hander hasn't had his normal pinpoint control, which is causing him to allow too many hits, while his walk rate has jumped to a career high.
Hits plus walks equals baserunners, which increases your opponents' chances of scoring.
Tanaka in 2017
| GS | IP | H9 | BB9 | WHIP | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 61 | 11.2 | 2.5 | 1.53 | 5.17 |
He's also allowing runs and hits in bunches, which is never a good sign. Tanaka has had four starts where he's allowed more than six earned runs and six starts where he's allowed seven-plus hits.
Opponents hit .348 off Tanaka in May and even though catcher Austin Romine has been behind the dish for all three of the pitcher's best starts this season, he was also responsible for calling Wednesday's disaster, so it appears whoever he throws to, things aren't going according to plan.
Something has got to change in Tanaka's approach if he is going to turn things around, and if he expects to opt out of his contract at the end of the season for greener pastures, he's going to have to put up some numbers that allow him to do so.
Otherwise, he can expect to make New York his home for the next three years, which isn't the best place for a high-priced pitcher who isn't producing. Just ask Hideki Irabu or Carl Pavano.