After throwing another successful bullpen session, Masahiro Tanaka says the slight ligament tear in his right elbow is better.

"I feel that I've gotten the health to the point where the elbow is fine now," Tanaka said.

Tanaka threw 35 pitches on Wednesday, including five splitters. He described his breaking pitches as "rusty."

There is still no precise timetable for Tanaka's return to the New York Yankees, but Brian Cashman said it will not happen this month.

The Yankees are 9.5 games back in the American League East and five games back for one of the two Wild Card spots.