Although Masahiro Tanaka didn't get to showcase his wares in the World Baseball Classic final, interest from major league clubs should be intense if he is posted this autumn by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Tanaka would have started in this year's WBC final, had Japan not been bounced in the semis. But that hasn't stopped a flock of scouts from shadowing him this season. Scouts from at least seven big league teams were on hand last week at Tokyo Dome when Tanaka posted his 12th win in 15 starts this season without a loss. The 24-year-old right-hander has won his last 19 decisions and has a string of 22 consecutive quality starts since his last loss on Aug. 19.

"He is a warrior," one scout said Saturday of the Eagles' ace. "He knows how to pitch and he hates to lose."