Masahiro Tanaka

Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka back from Japan

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has already returned from his native Japan to the United States and completed his intake process, per manager Aaron Boone.

What It Means:

Tanaka returned to Japan back in April amid the global pandemic. He recorded the second-highest ERA (4.45) of his career last season and matched his personal-worst WHIP (1.24). Tanaka also turned in a career-low strikeout percentage (19.6). The right-hander needed surgery last October to remove bone spurs from his pitching elbow, so it's possible that last season's poor performance was injury-related.

numberFire's models expect Tanaka to twirl a 4.38 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 59 strikeouts and 15 walks in 63 2/3 innings this season.