Masahiro Tanaka may be nearing his return to the New York Yankees.
Joe Girardi said Tuesday that the right-hander could be one rehab start away from a Major League mound.
Tanaka, on the disabled list since July 9 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, threw a three-inning simulated game at Yankee Stadium before the club faced the Tampa Bay Rays.
Assuming a normal five-day break before Tanaka's next outing, he could start one of the games against the Toronto Blue Jays, who come to Yankee Stadium for four games Sept. 18-21.