New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Could Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka make first start on July 31?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jul 21, 2020 3:46 PM ET

Less than three weeks after New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of teammate Giancarlo Stanton, the 31-year-old starter is on the verge of being cleared to return to in-game action.

Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Tanaka tossed about 20 pitches during batting practice on Tuesday without the use of a protective screen. He is scheduled to throw again this coming Sunday and could then be given the ball for a July 31 showdown with the division-rival Boston Red Sox.

"If everything comes out OK, I should be ready to go," Tanaka reportedly told reporters through a translator.

Tanaka was taken to a hospital after he was hit by the line drive during a July 4 simulated game. (Warning: Some may find footage of the incident disturbing.)

The medical facility released Tanaka a few hours later, and he returned to the Yankees clubhouse the following day.

Tanaka has tallied a regular-season record of 75-43 since his debut with the Yankees in 2014.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads: