ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Just because Masahiro Tanaka pitched like the ace he used to be Sunday, it doesn’t mean the void at the top of the Yankees’ rotation has been filled.
Luis Severino remains on the injured list, and nobody knows when he will return. James Paxton is Severino’s IL roommate. J.A. Happ has a losing record, and CC Sabathia hasn’t worked past the sixth inning yet. Domingo German’s record reflects ace status, but he doesn’t have a résumé to fill that role.
Yet, for one day when the Yankees needed Tanaka to at least match last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, Blake Snell, the right-hander delivered more than that and pitched the Yankees to a 7-1 victory over the Rays in front of 25,025 at Tropicana Field.