Masahiro Tanaka has been lights out for the Yankees. (Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK — About two months ago, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman tried to downplay Masahiro Tanaka.
He went on radio shows saying Tanaka was a No. 3 starter and then reiterated that at Tanaka’s introductory press conference.
Three starts in, Tanaka seems to be the Yankees’ best starting pitcher. He certainly looked the part Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader, dominating the Cubs by allowing two bunt singles and striking out 10 in eight innings.
Tanaka has 28 strikeouts in three games, the most by a Yankee in his first three starts since current broadcaster Al Leiter struck out 25 in three September starts in 1987.
Leiter was making less than $100,000 when he joined a team in need of pitching after falling seven games behind the Detroit Tigers. Tanaka is in the first year of a seven-year contract that will pay him $155 million.
Perhaps an even better number to gauge Tanaka is his strike percentage. Tanaka has thrown 69.5 percent of his pitches (212-of-305) for strikes.
It’s a number that may get some wows but doesn’t necessarily surprise teammates.
“My reaction is that he has that good of stuff that he doesn’t have to throw a lot of balls because he can throw pitches in the zone,” Shawn Kelley said. “That’s how good he is. I know it’s early, but he’s special.”
