The Yankees have lined up Masahiro Tanaka for the AL Wild Card game, scheduling their big-money ace to return from a hamstring injury to start Wednesday.
That would give Tanaka five days’ rest before the Oct. 6 one-game playoff. The Yankees can clinch a playoff berth Monday night if they defeat the Red Sox, and the Angels, Twins and Rangers all lose.
Tanaka, who has pitched this season with a partially torn elbow ligament and also missed time due to a forearm strain, hurt his hamstring running out a bunt during the Sept. 18 game at Citi Field against the Mets.