The New York Yankees will be without staff ace Masahiro Tanaka for at least the next two weeks -- and possibly longer.
The All-Star hurler was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday as he flew back to New York to have an MRI performed on his ailing right elbow.
Tanaka's shelving comes just one day after the first-year major leaguer had his worst start as a Yankee. He was tagged for season highs of five runs and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings to take the loss in New York's 5-3 setback at Cleveland.
The Yankees have initially termed Tanaka's injury as right elbow inflammation.
Tanaka had given up three runs or less in each of his first 16 outings since leaving his native Japan to sign a lucrative seven-year contract with the Yankees in January. That string ended when he surrendered four runs in seven innings at Minnesota on July 3, though the right-hander was still able to pick up his MLB-leading 12th win of the season.
The standout 25-year-old has compiled a 12-4 record through 18 starts, with his 2.51 season ERA second to Seattle's Felix Hernandez for tops in the AL. Tanaka was selected to the AL squad for next week's All-Star Game on Sunday.
[SportsNetwork.com]
