NEW YORK — Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka is set to start Sunday, his first game since going on the disabled list in early July because of a partial tear in his right elbow.

New York Manager Joe Girardi said Friday that Tanaka is ready to face Toronto.

The Japanese star is expected to throw 70 to 75 pitches.

Tanaka was 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA when he made his last start on July 8. The 25-year-old is in his first season in the majors after the Yankees paid $155 million to sign him.

Tanaka was diagnosed with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, and has tried to heal with rest and rehabilitation, rather than surgery.

Girardi says it’s “a risk worth taking” to check his recovery.

“We feel that if his arm is going to be OK, it’s going to be OK,” Girardi said.

The Yankees want to know if Tanaka’s elbow is all right. If not, he could soon have Tommy John surgery and miss all of the 2015 season.

TWINS: All-Star closer Glen Perkins is being shut down for the season because of a strain and secondary nerve irritation in his left forearm.

Perkins, a Minnesota native who signed a four-year, $22 million contract extension in March, had 34 saves in 41 chances. He blew three of his last five and posted an ERA of 14.21.

TIGERS: Catcher Alex Avila remained sidelined by concussion-like symptoms, and Manager Brad Ausmus was uncertain when the veteran backstop will be able to return to the lineup.

Avila took a foul ball off his mask two weeks ago in Cleveland and didn’t catch the next four games. He then left Sunday’s game against the Indians with some light-headedness.

MARLINS: Pitching ace Jose Fernandez has been cleared to start throwing Oct. 1.

The 2013 National League Rookie of the Year had season-ending Tommy John surgery May 16.

There is no timetable for Fernandez’s return to game action.

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