Why Yankees told Masahiro Tanaka to go home — and stay there

The Yankees told Masahiro Tanaka to go home Wednesday and to stay there on Thursday as …

NEW YORK — As if dealing with two strained hamstrings wasn’t bad enough, things got worse for Masahiro Tanaka.

The Yankees starting pitcher fell ill with an inner ear infection and was told to go home before Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Nationals at Yankee Stadium.

On Thursday, the training staff told him to stay there and get better. He’s expected to be back with the team Friday, a team spokesman said.

Manager Aaron Boone said he wasn’t worried it would mess with Tanaka’s timetable to return.

“Not concerned,” he said. “It’s just a little virus that he’s dealing with. So we’re hoping it’s not anything too serious. I don’t think it is. I think he’s getting what he needs to do to get well and it shouldn’t be too long.”

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Boone said he wasn’t sure which ear had been affected.

On Friday, Tanaka suffered one of the weirder injuries the Yankees have seen in a long time.

He strained not one but both hamstrings while running from third base to home in Friday’s win over the Mets at Citi Field.

Tanaka, general manager Brian Cashman and Boone each said they don’t know how long he’ll be out. Tanaka is on the 10-day disabled list. Boone speculated the right-hander could miss weeks.

The Yankees will have 23-year-old Jonathan Loaisiga make his major-league debut in Tanaka’s place on Friday against the Rays in the Bronx.

Loaisiga will be promoted from Double-A Trenton to the Yankees, skipping Triple-A. Boone said how long Loaisiga stays could depend on his performance.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.