Tanaka Uses Most Of His Arsenal In 35-Pitch, Pain-Free Bullpen Session

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Though the Yankees seem intent on finding ways to knock themselves out of the AL playoff races, Masahiro Tanaka looks determined to get back on the mound and try to help them this season.

Still working his way back from a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, Tanaka took another step back to the Yankees on Wednesday, throwing an impressive bullpen session.

According to WFAN's Sweeny Murti, the 25-year-old Japanese right-hander threw 35 pitches, including breaking balls and splitters and reported no pain.

Tanaka, who received a platelet-rich plasma injection more than a month ago, told reporters he felt rusty and needs to rebuild his stamina.

The outing was the latest in a series of positive developments for Tanaka, who went 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts before reporting elbow problems following a start in Cleveland on July 8. He has gradually amped up his throwing sessions, going from long tosses in the outfield to pitching off flat ground in the days and weeks leading up to Saturday's 25-pitch bullpen session in Tampa, Fla.

While it's unknown if Wednesday's session will lead to Tanaka eventually returning, the Yankees need to turn things around to even justify the risk of re-activating their $155 million offseason acquisition.

The Bombers (63-60) are coming off a brutal 7-4 loss to the visiting Houston Astros on Tuesday and entered play on Wednesday 8 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East and 4 behind in the race for the second wild card spot.

And they were expected to take the field in the middle game of their series with the Astros without veteran slugger Carlos Beltran.

The Yankees conclude their series with Houston on Thursday and then welcome the Chicago White Sox in for a weekend set.

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