The latest on Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka's injury

by Felix Pantaleon

Injured Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has been on the disabled list with two strained hamstrings. On Friday, manager Aaron Boone …

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One small step for man, one giant leap for Masahiro Tanaka.

The Yankees right-hander ramped up his program aimed at aiding his duel hamstring strains by throwing from short and long distance Friday before a game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

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Tanaka threw from flat ground and threw long toss. He’s been on the disabled list since hurting himself tagging up and scoring from third base on a sacrifice fly against the Mets at Citi Field.

Manager Aaron Boone outlined the plan for Tanaka, who will stay and workout at the team’s player development and training complex here when the rest of the club goes to Philadelphia on Sunday night.

“Another step along the way for him,” Boone said. “Scheduled to get on the mound Sunday. I think he’ll throw a bullpen. And then he’ll stay down here and throw another bullpen I believe Tuesday if everything goes well. And then at some point, maybe get into some kind of a sim game or something later next week. I think he’s progressing well and today’s another step along that way.”

Tanaka is 7-2 with a 4.58 ERA in 13 starts and 72 2/3 innings.

When Tanaka got hurt, he joined on the disabled list lefty Jordan Montgomery, who needed Tommy John surgery and might not pitch in the majors until 2020.

Jonathan Loaisiga was promoted from Double-A — skipping Triple-A — to take over for Tanaka until his return. Domingo German, subbing for Montgomery, figures to stick in the rotation.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has called improving the rotation “a need.” General manager Brian Cashman has said the team has looked into trade for a starting pitcher.

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