Masahiro Tanaka reacts after giving up a home run to Matt Joyce on his first pitch of the game Saturday in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the A's.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Joe Girardi had options regarding when he was going to start Masahiro Tanaka. Saturday and Sunday against the Athletics were open to the Yankees manager, who picked Saturday with the hope the former ace could help end a season-high four-game losing streak.
“There is something to that,” Girardi said. “This is a guy we relied heavily on the last three or four years, and we need a good start from him.