Masahiro Tanaka spent most of 2019 searching for his split-fingered fastball.

The normally reliable — and often devastating — pitch deserted him at times this season, with Tanaka and pitching coach Larry Rothschild going to drastic measures to get it back.

The right-hander is confident he has a good handle on the pitch going into Saturday’s ALDS Game 2 start against the Twins in The Bronx.

“I think I’m pretty confident in the splitter that I have right now going into [Saturday],’’ Tanaka said through an interpreter before Friday’s 10-4 Yankees victory over the Twins in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium.

It didn’t come easily.

“We tried everything,’’ Tanaka said. “We looked at a lot of aspects — mechanics, how I gripped the ball, all that. It was rough and tough because I wasn’t able to come to a good sort of answer, really getting the good splitter back during the season. So it was a struggle, but at the end of the day, you keep trying. … You just keep on trying and trying and I feel like towards the end of the season, I was able to really find that good splitter and get that back.’’

He said he has gained something through the difficulties of this year, when he changed his grip on the splitter, in addition to other alterations.

“What I’ve learned through the struggles that I went through going into games without having the splitter, you actually have to go with a different pitch where you would be, say, throwing a splitter at times during the game,” Tanaka said. “So you kind of had to be creative and really use all of your pitches except for the splitter. So that’s kind of how to use your pitches, I guess, is what I’ve learned.”

Whether he’s able to use that to his advantage Saturday while facing a powerful Twins lineup remains to be seen.

Tanaka historically has been hit hard by Jonathan Schoop, who didn’t start Friday, but figures to be in the lineup Saturday. Nelson Cruz, Minnesota’s most dangerous hitter, has not done well against Tanaka throughout his career, with just three hits in 27 at-bats (.111).

“I think just having confidence in every pitch that you throw and just to be yourself and really execute,’’ Tanaka said of facing the Twins. “That becomes the key. If I’m able to do that, I should be able to rack up some outs.”

He’s hoping to build on the success he has had both at Yankee Stadium this season, as well as in the playoffs, throughout his career.

In 16 games at home, Tanaka had a 3.10 ERA, compared to 6.05 in 16 appearances on the road. And in five postseason starts, Tanaka has allowed just five earned runs in 30 innings for a 1.50 ERA.

Tanaka insisted, though, he doesn’t place much importance on either part of his résumé.

“It’s about being yourself, being yourself on that mound and executing your pitches,’’ Tanaka said. “At the end of the day, I think that’s where it all kind of comes down to.’’