Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka hasn't given up hope that he will pitch in a major league game by the end of the season, and he agrees with manager Joe Girardi's assessment that it's vital to finding out whether he can avoid Tommy John surgery.
"I do," Tanaka said through an interpreter before the Yankees' 6-2 win against the Royals on Saturday. "Obviously, I think I need to pitch again this year to get a better feel of how I am when I pitch 100 percent in a game."
And like his manager, he is confident there still is time.
The right-hander, whose comeback from a partial ligament tear in his right elbow was slowed down by soreness, tossed his first bullpen session on Saturday since the setback and said his arm fatigue was gone.
After the 34-pitch session, in which he threw all of his pitches, Tanaka said his arm was improved.
"I feel that it's way stronger than it was," Tanaka said. "Really better."
The next step is to be determined. Girardi said that could be live batting practice or a simulated game, adding that the goal continued to be pitching in a game for the Yankees.
"You have to get him in games to resolve the situation," the manager said. "You can't wait til next spring. It needs to resolved and we'll do everything we can to get him in games before we leave here."
And if that doesn't happen, they may have to get creative, either with simulated games in Tampa or perhaps the Arizona Fall League
"Our belief is he'll be in games with us," said Girardi, who declined to get into specifics if that didn't happen. "I don't know what the plan would, be but we've got to find out."
Brett Gardner sat out with a tight lower abdomen that started bothering him in Friday's loss. It's similar to the injury that cost him a game in Cleveland in July, but he hopes to be able to play Sunday.
"I feel if I push it, I'm going to make it worse," Gardner said. "I don't feel like I'm close to 100 percent."
The left fielder said he hadn't dealt with the issue since July and no tests were scheduled.
Martin Prado was back in the lineup after missing three games with a strained left hamstring. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Francisco Cervelli wasn't available because of severe migraines.
Girardi said the migraines were not related to the concussions Cervelli has suffered. John Ryan Murphy filled in and Austin Romine was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to serve as the team's third catcher in Cervelli's absence.
Dellin Betances struck out another batter, upping his total to 125 this season, trailing only Mariano Rivera's franchise record of 130 that he set in 1996.
"I hadn't really thought about it, to be honest with you," Betances said of the potential milestone. "Anytime you're mentioned in a sentence with Mariano, in any stat, you've got to feel thrilled about that. It's been a special year for me, especially after things that have happened the last couple years. To be here, it's been all worth the wait."
Betances also passed Goose Gossage, who was second on the list.
"Look at the names," Girardi said. "One Hall of Famer and one who's waiting four more years. That's how dominant he has been this year. We always knew that the potential was there. For him to burst onto the scene, when you look at his numbers at the end of the year, they're gonna be similar to Mo's in '96. That's pretty impressive."
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