Masahiro Tanaka will have an opportunity to validate his credentials as the Yankees’ ace when he starts in the American League wild-card game against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
But although it will be Tanaka’s first appearance in Major League Baseball’s playoffs, it will not be his first foray into the postseason. In fact, perhaps no other major leaguer has Tanaka’s experience pitching in high-pressure games.
Tanaka’s last postseason start came on Nov. 2, 2013, in Game 6 of the Japan Series. He threw 160 pitches, but even more surprising was that Tanaka took the loss as the Yomiuri Giants beat his Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, 4-2.