With Luis Severino beginning the 2019 season on the shelf, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone tapped Masahiro Tanaka to get the ball on Opening Day.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone had a decision to make regarding who his opening day starter.
He wisely chose to go with Masahiro Tanaka to kick off the season against the Baltimore Orioles.
Tanaka gets Yankees opening day start according to Boone. To be followed by Paxton & Happ.
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) March 9, 2019
Gearing up for his sixth season as a Yankee, Tanaka is the perfect guy to start a pennant run in the absence of ace Luis Severino.
He may not have as successful of a year as newly acquired James Paxton and JA Happ in his first full season in pinstripes but Tanaka is the experienced hurler fans should want to lead the staff in Severino’s absence.
Tanaka will be looking to improve on his opening day numbers with three starts under his belt and a total of 13 runs in 12.1 innings. His last opening day start was in 2017, in which Tanaka turned in 2.2 innings and seven earned runs.
Boone will go with James Paxton following Tanaka and then J.A. Happ will get the final game of the opening series.
The New York Yankees will commence the 2019 MLB season on Thursday, March 28 at 1 p.m. ET against the Baltimore Orioles.
