Cole will start for the Yankees on Opening Day against San Francisco, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Cole as the team's Opening Day starter Monday, but the decision was essentially a foregone conclusion. Cole is considered one of the top pitchers in baseball and is set to toe the mound for the Yankees on Opening Day for the fourth straight season. The veteran right-hander led the majors with 257 strikeouts last season while posting a 3.50 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 200.2 innings.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Nears triple-digit velocity
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Cole topped out at 99 mph in his spring pitching debut Friday, per Max Goodman of SI.com, and he tossed three scoreless innings against Detroit during which he allowed one hit and no walks while striking out four batters.
Based on Cole's results in his first Grapefruit League appearance, the veteran hurler appears primed for the regular season. The right-hander threw 37 of 51 pitches for strikes and allowed just two baserunners -- one on a double and the other on an error. Though Cole's 3.50 ERA last season was his worst since 2017, he still posted an impressive 1.02 WHIP and 32.4 percent strikeout rate, and he's consistently been among the first three starting pitchers off the board in 2023 fantasy drafts.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Set for spring debut Friday
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Cole is expected to start Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Cole has been tossing bullpen sessions but has yet to throw in a game this spring. He'll likely toe the mound against Detroit on Friday, though Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports that New York is "leaving the door open" for the veteran right-hander to toss a live BP session instead. Cole will enter the regular season as the team's ace after posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 257:50 K:BB over 200.2 innings last season.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Takes loss in Game 3
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Cole pitched five innings and took the loss during Saturday's 5-0 defeat in Game 3 of the ALCS, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Cole was unable to turn the tide of the ALCS in Saturday's Game 3 defeat, surrendering a two-run homer to Chas McCormick in the second inning and leaving after loading the bases in the sixth inning. The two-run homer was a back-breaker, coming after a two-out error by Harrison Bader, and Lou Trivino allowed all three of Cole's inherited runners to score in the sixth. The 32-year-old Cole's only regular-season start against Houston had come June 25, when he threw seven strong innings while allowing one run, but he was unable to match that performance Saturday. Cole was 2-0 with two wins against the Guardians during the ALDS, but his loss in Game 3 brings him to 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA and 23 K's over 18.1 innings in the postseason.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Could close Game 5
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Cole is an option to pitch in relief in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Tuesday, potentially as the closer, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Cole threw 110 pitches in his Game 4 start on Sunday, but it's not uncommon in the playoffs for starters to skip the bullpen session they typically throw between starts and toss an inning in game action instead. Whether a presumably somewhat tired Cole is a stronger option than the Yankees' other relief weapons will be a tough call for manager Aaron Boone.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Takes loss despite quality start
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Cole (13-8) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
The right-hander delivered his second straight quality start and 21st of the year in his final regular-season start, but Cole didn't get enough run support to turn it into a win. He managed only a 4.50 ERA through 36 innings since the beginning of September, but it comes with a sharp 1.03 WHIP and 53:10 K:BB, and Cole topped 250 strikeouts on the season for the third time in his career.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Sputters in sixth inning
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Cole (13-7) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk with four punchouts over 6.1 innings against the Blue Jays.
Cole was perfect through five innings Wednesday but ran into trouble in the sixth inning. Danny Jansen led off the frame with a home run; Whit Merrifield followed with a base hit and Jackie Bradley Jr reached based on a walk, both of whom came around to score and tie the game at 3-3. Despite the hiccup, Cole recorded his first quality start since Sept. 7. He has struggled with the long ball recently, allowing at least one homer in each of his last seven appearances. He will take a 3.51 ERA into his next start.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Tossed against Red Sox
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Cole was ejected from Friday's start against the Red Sox in the sixth inning, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.
After striking out J.D. Martinez to end the top of the sixth inning, Cole argued with the home plate umpire over a perceived missed call that led directly to a three-run home run by Alex Verdugo. While he was formally tossed, Cole's start was likely already over as he had thrown 103 pitches while also allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks. He also struck out eight, backed by 17 swinging strikes on 103 total pitches. For the season, Cole owns a 3.49 ERA across 188.1 frames, though he has now served up multiple home runs in three consecutive starts.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Strikes out eight in win
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Cole (12-7) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight in five innings to earn the win over the Brewers on Sunday.
Cole gave up four runs over the first two innings Sunday, and his start against the Brewers was just the fifth time this season that he's failed to last at least six innings. However, he got plenty of run support from the Yankees' offense during Sunday's 12-8 victory and picked up his third win over his last five starts. The right-hander has struck out at least eight batters in four of those five outings and has posted a 3.38 ERA and 47:10 K:BB in 32 innings across that span. Cole tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Red Sox on Saturday.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Victim of long ball Tuesday
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Cole did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out 10.
Boston tagged Cole for three long balls Tuesday to prevent him from recording the quality start, though Cole threw at least six innings for the 17th consecutive start. Homers are becoming something of an issue for the Yankees' ace, as he has allowed at least one home run in each of his last four starts. He will take a 3.30 ERA into his next start, tentatively scheduled against Milwaukee this weekend.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Fans season-high 14 in win
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Cole (11-7) picked up the win in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out 14.
The 14 strikeouts are a season high for Cole, who has fanned double-digit batters eight times in 28 outings. He's also delivered three straight quality starts and five in his last six outings, posting a 2.02 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 48:9 K:BB through 40 innings over the latter stretch.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Handed seventh loss
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Cole (10-7) took the loss Wednesday versus the Angels, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out four over seven innings.
All of the damage against Cole came in the sixth inning when Shohei Ohtani took him deep for a three-run home run. The four strikeouts were Cole's lowest total in a start since June 9. While it wasn't the best of outings for the right-hander, he was able to log his fourth quality start in six games in August. He's at a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 204:40 K:BB through 164.2 innings across 27 starts this year. Cole's projected for a home start versus the Twins in the first of a potential two starts next week.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Reaches 200 strikeouts
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Cole (10-6) allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 7.1 innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.
Cole notched his seventh game of double-digit strikeouts this year. His punchout of Cal Stevenson in the seventh inning secured Cole's fifth career 200-strikeout season. He's the first in the majors to reach that milestone in 2022. The right-hander has gone at least six innings in 14 straight starts, pitching to a 3.08 ERA in that span. For the season, he owns a 3.31 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 200:39 K:BB through 157.2 innings across 26 starts. He's projected for a road start versus the Angels next week.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Falls apart in fifth inning
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Cole (9-6) took the loss against Toronto on Saturday, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters.
Cole was locked in through four frames, allowing only two baserunners on a walk and a hit batsman. After striking out Matt Chapman to begin the fifth, he subsequently let six straight batters reach base on three doubles, two infield singles and a free pass. The onslaught resulted in four runs, and though Cole rebounded to retire the side in order in the sixth, the damage was too much for a recently tepid New York offense to overcome. Cole has now gone six starts without earning a victory, and he's posted an uncharacteristic 4.62 ERA over that span. He leads the majors with 189 strikeouts but has otherwise had a mildly disappointing campaign thus far.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Handed tough-luck loss
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Cole (9-5) allowed one run on five hits and two walks over six innings Monday, striking out six and taking a loss against the Rays.
Cole worked through three scoreless frames before yielding a run in the fourth. Unfortunately for him, the Yankees were shut out, so he was tagged with a loss. Since his last win July 17, Cole is 0-3 with a 4.35 ERA over his last five starts. With Monday's outing, he lowered his season ERA to 3.30 alongside a 184:35 K:BB across 144.1 frames. Cole is projected to start at home against the Blue Jays this weekend.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Rebounds with gem
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Cole didn't factor into the decision during Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Seattle, allowing four hits while striking out eight in seven scoreless innings.
Cole went toe-to-toe in a rematch with Seattle starter Luis Castillo but couldn't register the victory as the game went 13 innings. The excellent performance comes on the heels of three straight poor outings, during which the 31-year-old pitched to a 7.00 ERA across 18 innings against inferior competition in Baltimore, Kansas City and Seattle. Cole retook the MLB lead with his 178th strikeout, and he's scheduled to next pitch against Tampa Bay early next week.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Ambushed by Mariners
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Cole (9-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Yankees were downed 7-3 by the Mariners, coughing up six runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over six innings. He struck out eight.
All six runs scored in the first inning as Eugenio Suarez, Carlos Santana and Jarred Kelenic took Cole deep, but the right-hander was at least able to save the bullpen by settling down and working another five frames. Cole exited after 103 pitches (69 strikes), and he'll take a 3.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 170:33 K:BB through 131.1 innings into his next outing.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Escapes with no-decision Friday
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Cole didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-5 win over the Royals, surrendering five runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
The right-hander showed his usual dominance and blanked Kansas City through four frames, but Cole ran into trouble in the fifth, eventually serving up a three-run blast to Salvador Perez. He exited with the Yankees down 5-3, but a massive rally in the eighth erased the deficit. Cole generated 19 swinging strikes among his 100 pitches, and he'll take a 3.30 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 162:32 K:BB through 125.1 innings into his next start.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Loses in Baltimore
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Cole (9-3) took the loss Saturday against the Orioles after giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
Cole threw 80 of his 112 pitches for strikes and generated 16 whiffs, but Baltimore rallied for four runs between the fifth and seventh innings to sink him. The nine hits allowed are a season high, though he was able to limit the damage and give the Yankees offense a chance. Cole has a 3.09 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 153:32 K:BB through 20 starts (119.1 innings), and he tentatively lines up to pitch during next weekend's four-game set versus Kansas City.
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Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Tied for league lead in K's
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Cole (9-2) gave up two earned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out 12 in seven innings Sunday against the Red Sox. He picked up the win.
He tied his season high with 12 strikeouts and struck out double-digit batters a second straight time and sixth time this season. Cole has had a few blowup outings this season, but his 3.02 ERA and 0.98 WHIP are still strong thanks to dominant outings like this one. Cole enters the All-Star break tied with Shane McClanahan for first in the majors with 147 strikeouts.
