Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is apparently progressing well after receiving platelet-rich plasma treatment for his partially torn elbow ligament. He is scheduled to be re-examined on Monday, three weeks out from the injection. “When we get home we’ll see what the doctors say and what the next plan is for him, but I know he feels much, much better,” said Joe Girardi to Chad Jennings yesterday.

Tanaka has been out for a month now, and, at the time of his initial diagnosis, the hope was that he could resume pitching in six weeks. That’s only two weeks away now. From what I understand, Monday’s exam is a critical point in his rehab. If the tests show his ligament is healing, then the treatment is working. If not, then in all likelihood he will have to undergo Tommy John surgery. It’s great that Tanaka is feeling better, but how he feels and what the tests show on Monday are two separate things.