ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Joe Girardi is taking aim at the Blue Jays with the pitchers he feels can help the Yankees get past the AL East leaders and avoid participating in the AL Wild Card game.
That means Masahiro Tanaka starts Friday against the Mets in the first game of the Subway Series at Citi Field and the underachieving Ivan Nova has been dropped from the rotation.
Using Tanaka on four days’ rest for the fifth time this season and second consecutive turn means he will be able to come back and face the Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game series in Toronto next Wednesday.
“We are trying to go with guys who are throwing the best right now,’’ Girardi said about sending Nova to the bullpen.
Michael Pineda, who has joined Nova in the struggling department lately, starts Saturday and CC Sabathia closes the Subway Series on Sunday.
Nova is 1-4 with a 9.23 ERA in his past five starts. According to Girardi, the right-hander — who had Tommy John surgery last year — will join the bullpen for the weekend action against the Mets and might be used for an inning if the situation calls for it.
“We have not made any decisions right now, but he will be in the bullpen this weekend,’’ Girardi said when asked if Nova was being skipped. “I am not saying he won’t make another start. Physically he is fine.’’
Since Pineda and Nova started last Saturday’s doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium and got spanked, Girardi could have sent either to the pen. Pineda is 1-6 with a 6.21 ERA in his past six starts.
Tanaka is coming off seven shutout innings against the muscular Blue Jays this past Sunday. That combined with the Yankees trailing the Blue Jays by three games entering Wednesday night’s action against the Rays at Tropicana Field played a big part in Girardi’s decision to start Tanaka on four days’ rest against the Mets.
“He has pitched well on regular rest,’’ Girardi said. “That’s why we feel he can do this.”
Tanaka has started four games on four days’ rest and is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He has allowed 16 hits, three walks and fanned 23 in 25 2/3 innings. On five days’ rest, which he has done in 14 starts, Tanaka is 7-4 with a 3.51 ERA with 82 hits and 18 walks allowed and 80 strikeouts. Working on six days or more of rest, which he has done four times, Tanaka is 3-1 with a 3.96 ERA.
Considering Tanaka’s elbow history — he was diagnosed with a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament last year when the Yankees opted for rehab instead of Tommy John surgery — and his stint on the DL earlier this year with right wrist tendinitis and a forearm strain, there is a health risk using him on four days’ rest instead of five.
“I know he had a little issue, but he has been healthy and pitched extremely well,’’ Girardi said of Tanaka, who is 12-6 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 games. “I have seen completely healthy pitchers go out there and something happens.’’
While Girardi wouldn’t commit past using Sabathia on Sunday, the manager could start Adam Warren or Luis Severino on Monday or Tuesday. Warren, who started Tuesday night’s 6-3 loss, would be working with five days’ rest. Severino, who was set to oppose the Rays’ Chris Archer on Wednesday night, would be working on four.