TAMPA — To say the Yankees’ season hinges on the health of Masahiro Tanaka’s right elbow would be a bit of a stretch.
There are more questions than Tanaka coming back from a minor tear of the ulnar collateral ligament suffered in July.
Still, if the Yankees hope to halt a two-year skid of dark Octobers, they need the 26-year-old ace to pitch like he did before being injured, and for the entire season.
So, how have the Yankees balanced being careful with their $175 million investment and likely Opening Day starter while understanding spring training is for building arm strength?
And based on Tanaka’s last outing against the Braves on March 18, there is room for improved arm strength because one fastball was clocked at 91 mph, another at 90 and the rest at 88 and 89.
Before the injury, Tanaka’s four-seam fastball sat between 94 and 96 mph. In two September starts it was between 93 and 94.
“We were working on a couple of things that I don’t want to get into,’’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of the Braves outing. “I don’t think there is any difference in the average [from last spring]. When he is ready to go, when it matters the average will be higher. But you aren’t going to see that until he airs it out.’’
After one more exhibition start, Tanaka gets to show where his arm strength is on April 6 against the Blue Jays on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. CC Sabathia, who has started the last six Yankees Opening Day games, likely will pitch the second game of the year and be followed by Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi.
“I didn’t look at it as a rehab at all,’’ Tanaka said of his offseason workout program. “I felt that everything is fine and healed. I looked at my training in the winter as regular training.’’
On Wednesday against the Mets at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tanaka will make his third exhibition start and he said he believes the work he did in the winter and what he has done in spring training has paid off.
“It’s been a process, you start out in the winter training on your own and you come to this point where you are pitching in spring training games,’’ said Tanaka, who has worked 5 ²/₃ innings, allowed two hits, fanned five and hasn’t issued a walk. “I think that the process up to this point is going well. I feel stronger.’’
The fine line the Yankees are walking with Tanaka is one they did with Sabathia in 2013 when he was coming off surgery to remove a bone spur in the left elbow the previous October.
“I think you take it slower just to make sure they are where they are supposed to be on February 15,’’ manager Joe Girardi said. “We have taken it a bit slower no matter what, even if they say they are ready just to make sure.’’
When Tanaka was topping out at 91 mph against the Braves, Girardi said he wasn’t concerned.
“It was a little lower, but when he wanted the extra he went and got it,’’ Girardi said. “But I think he threw more sinkers.’’
Sabathia said he understands the challenge of not overdoing an arm that had surgery while attempting to reach the necessary arm strength in time for the start of the season.
“Mine was a little different, I was cut open and his was rest,’’ Sabathia said. “I was trying to be ready for Opening Day.’’
Andrew Bailey is another member of the club.
“You just come to spring training, see how you feel against hitters and take inventory from there,’’ said Bailey, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2013 due to shoulder surgery but who is having a solid spring. “You build arm strength and be ready.’’