Masahiro Tanaka and the Yankees have dodged a bullet — for now, at least.
Tanaka long-tossed and threw off flat ground on Tuesday after being examined Monday by team physician Chris Ahmad on Monday and was diagnosed with only arm fatigue.
After he long-tossed with pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the coach said Tanaka was “fine” and the team would take it “day-by-day.”
Tanaka left Toronto over the weekend as his attempt to avoid Tommy John surgery was set back by a sore arm, but manager Joe Girardi said “every test” that was performed on the right-hander came back “really good.”
He is expected to throw another bullpen session this week before the Yankees determine his next step.
“Hopefully he’s ready to do it,” Girardi said.
At this point, if Tanaka does end up needing elbow surgery, his return will be delayed even further.
Jacoby Ellsbury was back in the lineup on Tuesday, leading off and playing center field after suffering a sprained left ankle on Friday.
“He said he felt better [Monday] and then again [Tuesday],” Girardi said.
Ellsbury, who went 0-for-5 in the Yankees’ 9-4 loss to the Red Sox, suffered the injury Friday night on a slide into home when his ankle collided with Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro. He had a pinch-hit double on Sunday.
With Ellsbury’s return to the top of the lineup, Brett Gardner moved to the third spot with Girardi praising his production against right-handers. Gardner, though, was ejected after being called out on strikes to end the fifth and went 0-for-3.
“He’s probably been as good against right-handers as anyone in our lineup,” Girardi said of Gardner. “So I left [Ellsbury] in the 1-hole. My concern in switching the guys when both were going well was, ‘Why move them?’ I put [Ellsbury] in the 1-hole when Gardner got hurt and he did extremely well, so I’ll leave him there.”
David Phelps threw a bullpen session Tuesday for the first time since being shut down with elbow inflammation last month and was encouraged by the results.
He said he felt “great” after the 25-pitch session, which included fastballs and changeups. If all goes well, he’ll throw another bullpen session Friday, this time 35 pitches and using his breaking balls.
That should lead to a simulated game on Sunday and he hopes a return to the roster soon after that.
CC Sabathia had another stem-cell treatment on his ailing right knee last Tuesday.
“It went well,” Sabathia said. “I’ve got no crutches. I feel good.”
Sabathia still is a week or two away from throwing.
Girardi refused to blame Mark Teixeira’s woes at the plate on his injuries, saying he was dealing with normal aches and pains.
“I know he went through the pinkie finger that kept him out a few days,” the manager said of Teixeira, who went 0-for-3 with a walk. “He’s another guy we need to be productive because he has the ability to change the game. His swings can be three-run homers. He can change it quickly.”
Familiar faces such as right-handers Chase Whitley and Preston Claiborne appeared in the clubhouse on Tuesday as the roster expanded to as many as 40 players.
“Pitching is always important this time of year,” Girardi said.
John Ryan Murphy was also recalled as the third-string catcher and outfielder Antoan Richardson could provide speed off the bench, according to Girardi.