TAMPA, Fla. -- Masahiro Tanaka is lined up to start the Yankees' opener against Toronto on April 6, which would end CC Sabathia's streak of six straight opening-day starts for New York. "Absolutely, it will be a great honor to be able to pitch opening day," Tanaka said through a translator. "Being able to pitch on that very first day of the season, I think it says a lot about what the organization is expecting out of a pitcher." Yankees manager Joe Girardi says Sabathia's next exhibition start is Saturday, which lines up the 34-year old left-hander to face the Blue Jays on April 8. Sabathia is coming back from season-ending knee surgery in July. He has 11 opening-days starts overall. Tanaka is starting his second season with New York.
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