Masahiro Tanaka believes it is possible to finish the season with a 24-0 record during his first season with the New York Yankees.

Tanaka has struck out 35 while walking two in his first four big league starts.

"Honestly, it's hard to say. But the percentage I would say is not zero percent," Tanaka told ESPNNewYork.com through his translator, Shingo Horie. "I say this because I go on the mound to try to beat the other team every single time. ... So I don't want to look at it as something that's impossible to do.

"If there's a possibility, I want to go towards that. ... Every time I take the mound, I try to win. So that's what I'm trying to do. And I fully understand how difficult of a task (24-0) would be."

The San Francisco Giants believe Brandon Belt could become their No. 3 hitter permanently.

Pablo Sandoval has been a slump throughout the early part of the season.

Bruce Bochy said Belt could be a “stabilizing” presence at No. 3. Belt said that’s where he wants to hit.

“We’ll see how it goes here, but at some point he could go in the three-hole and stay there,” Bochy said during batting practice. “We’re going to stick with this plan now. He an (Hunter) Pence are going to go back and forth (in the second spot).”

Belt led the Giants in OPS last season.