2014 Fantasy Baseball: 5 Reasons SP Masahiro Tanaka Is For Real

There was a good deal of attention about Tanaka’s split finger fastball this off-season. However, all the reports about his signature pitch seem to be dead on. The bottom drops right out of the splitter and it is almost impossible for hitters to track. Tanak'a split-finger fastball is one of the deadliest pitches in all of baseball right now.

Tanaka gets upset over simply walking a batter. He never wants to lose a game and the rookie will be a competitor every fifth day for the Yanks. He hasn’t lost a regular season game since August 19, 2012, and the youngster has quickly started his MLB career off 3-0, after finishing last year in Japan with a flawless 24-0 record. Tanaka seems destined to reach double-digit wins in his rookie fantasy campaign.

Tanaka has shockingly walked just two batters through his first 29.1 innings of work. He has demonstrated elite command around the strike zone and will rarely allow the free pass. A pitcher that doesn’t issue walks will always be a fantasy favorite.

Tanaka has lasted at least seven innings in each contest this season. He threw a staggering 1,315 innings throughout his Japanese baseball career and proved he could go the distance anytime he steps on the mound. Tanaka will be an innings monster for fantasy owners this year.

The hurler has already racked up 35 K’s through his first four starts (29.1 IP). Tanaka is currently striking out 11.46 K/9 and the right-hander has become one of the most dangerous strikeout artists in the entire league. Look for Tanaka to become a perennial 180-K threat for fantasy owners.