Gerrit Cole Set To Make Season Debut For Yanks This Week
MLB's Gerrit Cole is viewed as arguably baseball's best pitcher. The ace has been out of action since Spring Training because of injury. Now, Gerrit Cole is ready to return to New York — already viewed as one of the AL's strongest contenders for October.
Cole's return can only be seen as a major bump in the Yankees' stock, riding a hot start to the year, and at the ideal time.
Last season, Cole posted an AL-best 2.63 ERA in 209 innings pitched (0.981 WHIP, 222 Ks).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 17: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after the last out in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on July 17, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
On Monday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave the long-awaited update on Cole.
As OutKick's Geoff Clark previously wrote, Yankees fans launched into a full-scale panic after "general soreness" started to bother the 2023 AL CY Young winner. Cole avoided Tommy John surgery as he rehabbed from nerve inflammation.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees heads into the dugout in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Sitting on the IL for two and a half months to start the season, with the Bombers at the top of the AL East (50-24), Gerrit Cole (elbow) is ready to take the mound again, scheduled to make his season debut Wednesday against the Orioles.
New York's arsenal of pitching more than held up without Cole to start the season.
The handsomely paid Carlos Rodon is on a bit of a comeback campaign after a terrible first stint with the Yankees last season.
Offseason signing Marcos Stroman has been a standout alongside Luis Gil in the starting rotation.
Nestor Cortes has been meh.
Add Cole to that trending rotation and the Yanks could hold the momentum to win the division over the Baltimore Orioles, also the team honored with welcoming back Cole on Wednesday.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 11: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees celebrates closing out the top of the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 11, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Baltimore is 1.5 games behind the Yankees for the division lead. In third place, the Boston Red Sox sit 12 games behind the lead.
(Are the Yankees the current favorites to win the AL Pennant? Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com)
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