New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka feels ‘way better’

All-Star right-hander Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees threw 34 pitches on Saturday and told reporters afterward that his dead arm of earlier this week is a thing of the past.

Tanaka had a setback in his recovery from a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and was shut down with what was diagnosed with fatigue.

He threw off a mound Saturday after tests on his elbow came back clean and said he is over the dead arm.

"“I feel that it’s way stronger than it was, so way better,” Tanaka said, per the Lower Hudson Journal News."

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Tanaka hasn’t pitched since July 8, shortly after being named to the All-Star Game in his first season since coming over from Japan.

The 25-year-old is 12-4 in 18 starts, with a 2.51 ERA and 1.005 WHIP in 129.1 innings and posted 135 strikeouts.

The Yankees want to get Tanaka into a game this season.

"“You have to get him in games to resolve the situation,” manager Joe Girardi said. “That’s the bottom line because you can’t wait until next spring to resolve it. So it needs to resolve and we’ll do everything we can to get him in games before we leave.”"

Girardi said the team will meet with the training staff to determine whether or not Tanaka’s next move will be to throw live batting practice or to work another simulated game.

Tanaka said he’s not concerned about how he will feel on Sunday.

"“I really do feel that I’m getting stronger, so I’m really not worried about it.”"

The Yankees entered Saturday 4 ½ games behind the Seattle Mariners for the second American League wild-card spot.

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