HOUSTON (WFAN) — We are starting to see the best of Masahiro Tanaka, and the Yankees need that to continue on Friday night in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series.
It hasn’t been like this all year, though. By most statistical measures this has been the worst season of Tanaka’s entire professional career, including his years in Japan. His 4.74 ERA, his 1.239 WHIP, the 35 home runs allowed … all of it in his opt-out year.
But sprinkled throughout this less-than-stellar season have been some of the most dominating performances of his entire career:
— Three-hitter at Boston, April 27
— 13 strikeouts, no walks vs.