Yankees Masahiro Tanaka Battling Injury: Fantasy Fallout

By Brad Kelly | Sep 22, 2016

Sep 21, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) reacts on the mound during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Masahiro Tanaka currently has the lowest ERA in the AL and has pitched every bit like the ace that the Yankees needed. But, he will now miss a start due to a forearm injury. What is the fantasy fallout?

When the 2016 trade deadline came around, everyone in MLB agreed that the Yankees held the most prized assets in Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Carlos Beltran. After struggling to stay over .500 for most of the season, the team did the unthinkable, waiving the white flag and became trade deadline sellers. The only consistent for the club during this whirlwind of a season, has been the CY Young caliber worthy performance from, Masahiro Tanaka.

Masahiro Tanaka entered the majors in 2014 surrounded by a ton of hype, and tasked with huge expectations. For the most part, the Yankees could not have asked for much more than what he has been able to do over the last three seasons,. Amidst all the success, the only cloud of uncertainty is just how long will his elbow hold up.

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We all know that Tanaka is pitching through a partially torn UCL in his elbow, but he has defied all those who said he would he struggle before ultimately having surgery. Tanaka had a tremendous rookie campaign, but this season has been his best as a big leaguer. He currently holds a, 14 W/3.07/1.077 WHIP/165 K line, and he just so happens to have the lowest ERA in the AL.

His career best season has amazingly been overlooked though by most, except those fantasy owners who drafted him as a late round pick and have reaped the rewards. Tanaka has pitched like an ace this season, and even though he lacks the high upside K potential that he showed before his UCL injury, owners can not complain about his performance.

The UCL injury is obviously the elephant in the room, yet Tanaka also had surgery last offseason to remove a bone spur. Leading us to his current ailment, a strained flexor mass in his forearm. Luckily, the injury is not close to his elbow, and Tanaka himself stated, that he was experiencing more tightness than pain.

This news does not help fantasy owners heading into the championship week in the least. He was able to survive his last start, but did surrender a career worst four HR, all coming in one inning at that. The injury clearly effected his slider and splitter , only further complicating things. The Yankees are in tough spot by trying to continue to fight for the Wildcard, but at the same time having to handle their ace with extreme caution.

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Tanaka was shaping up to be a two-start SP next week, coming at the perfect time for those still alive entering championship week. It would be surprising to see the Yankees let Tanaka return this season, unless they are only a game away from claiming a playoff berth. Fantasy owners will have to look elsewhere off the wavier wire to be safe, because there is no reason to risk inserting Tanaka in your rotation at the make or break time of the season.

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