MLB on Sling TV: Double Dose of Tanaka on Tap
Let’s play two! Actually, the are no double-headers on the schedule this week, but we can still dream, right?
What we do get two of is the Yankees and Masahiro Tanaka against the Blue Jays and the Red Sox. That’s a fine way to jump right into the heat of what should be a great season in the AL East.
Fans of the Red Sox and Blue Jays have plenty of reasons to be excited but Yankees fans will be watching Tanaka throw with a bit of fear on every pitch.
Tanaka has a small tear in his elbow and former Red Sox great Pedro Martinez took note: “I don’t see him healthy all year. And I don’t see him healthy right now. I’ll be brave enough to say he’s not completely healthy right now.”
Tanaka signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees last season and their playoff hopes rest heavily on his elbow.
“I understand that everybody has their opinion about certain things, about the way I pitch,” Tanaka said through his translator. “But for me, I know where I’m at, and I feel good, so I think that’s most important.”
Here’s the TV schedule for this week:
Monday, April 6
All times eastern
Toronto at New York, 1pm (ESPN)
Drew Hutchison vs Masahiro Tanaka
New York at Washington, 4pm (ESPN)
Bartolo Colon vs Max Scherzer
Cleveland at Houston, 7pm (ESPN)
Corey Kluber vs Dallas Keuchel
San Francisco at Arizona, 7pm (ESPN2)
Madison Bumgarner vs Josh Collmenter
Wednesday, April 8
Boston at Philadelphia, 7pm (ESPN2)
Rick Porcello vs Aaron Harang
San Diego at Los Angeles, 10pm (ESPN2)
Andrew Cashner vs Brandon McCarthy
Sunday, April 12
Boston at New York, 8pm (ESPN)
Joe Kelly vs Masahiro Tanaka