SEATTLE — Masahiro Tanaka makes his long-awaited return from the disabled list on Wednesday, adding what Joe Girardi hopes is a dominant arm to the team’s starting rotation.
Tanaka is scheduled to throw 80-85 pitches against the Mariners, making his first start since April 23. Tanaka missed the past 32 games with wrist tendinitis and a mild forearm strain, but Girardi feels confident that the righthander is healthy and ready to go. “We expect him to pitch like he did his last couple of outings,” Girardi said before Tuesday’s game. “Obviously he’s not quite as built up as he was before he got hurt.