Masahiro-Tanaka-Kim-Klement-USAT.JPG

Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka laughs on the bench.

(Kim Klement/USA Today)

TAMPA, Fla. — It appears Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild's plan would make Masahiro Tanaka the team's fourth starter.

Rothschild told reporters early Saturday morning he wants Tanaka to get as much rest as possible before making his first regular season start.

Also, Rothschild said, the decision whether to pitch Tanaka and Hiroki Kuroda back-to-back could depend on the style of the Yankees' fifth starter, a role that hasn't been determined.

"I think we weigh the schedule a little bit where he can get extra rest early in the season and to get him strong through the year," the pitching coach said. "More of a schedule not that he's used to but so it morphs into something in between both."

The Yankees' fourth game of the season is in Toronto at 7:05 p.m. April 4. The team's season starts April 1 with a three-game series in Houston. If Tanaka was in the No. 4 spot, it would mean he'd likely follow, in order, CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova.

In Japana, Tanaka, 25, would pitch every sixth day. Rothschild and manager Joe Girardi each have said Tanaka will pitch on the normal American five-day cycle.

But, Rothschild said, he will try to get Tanaka extra days off here and there if possible. The pitching coach said he's considering giving Tanaka starts against weaker lineups to ease his transition.

Rothschild also said he doesn't believe Kuroda — Tanaka's fellow countryman whose best pitch is a splitter, too — throw the same.

"I'm not sure how similar they are," Rothschild said. "Nova's different a little bit. But it depends on who's the fifth, too. There might be more similarities there. You don't know."

Tanaka will make his third appearance Sunday at home. He's come in relief once, started once and thrown one simulated game. Rothschild said he'll throw about four innings and 75 pitches.

He said he expects to adjust to a five-day schedule just fine.

"So I look at it if there's an extra day I'm obviously happy with that extra day," said Tanaka, via translator Shingo Horie. "But basically I'm just adjusting with going every fifth day."