Yankees undecided on ALDS Game 1 starter, but Gerrit Cole looking forward to his next start whenever that is
Now that the Yankees are heading to the American League Division Series to take on the Tampa Bay Rays, the next question is: who will start Game 1?
Cam Schlittler took the mound in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and is expected to be called upon to start Game 2 against their AL East rivals, so it makes sense for Gerrit Cole — who was going to start WC Game 3, if it went that far — to be the starter. However, the team isn’t going to divulge that information just yet.
“We’ll talk about that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Game 1 starter. “Obviously, Gerrit’s lined up for that. Carlos [Rodon] is very much in play for that. We have a ton of confidence in both guys. I think they’re both throwing the ball really well. That will be what we do here these next couple of days as we get ready It’s possible. It’s definitely possible. Again, it’s a long ways away.”
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake told the media, including The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, after Game 2’s win that a decision on the Game 1 starter has yet to be made and reiterated what Boone said — it’ll either be Cole or Rodon.
The ALDS starts this Saturday, so a decision will be made really soon. But who is better suited to start the pivotal first game of the series?
Cole’s last start came against the Rays back on Sept. 23, a week after the Yankees’ Wild Card Series clinching win. In that start, he struck out eight batters and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks across 5.2 innings.
His last postseason start came in the now-infamous Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers. He pitched 6.2 innings, but allowed five unearned runs. His career postseason ERA sits at 2.77 across 22 starts.
“[Expecting] some good baseball. Just excited,” Cole told SNY’s Nikki Lattarulo of what he expects from the next series after Game 2. “I haven’t pitched in a while. Looking forward to getting back out there.”
Despite being down for about 10 days before his potential Game 1 start, Cole didn’t say whether it’s difficult being down that long, but is looking forward to when he pitches.
“It’s the postseason, man. There’s no expectations,” he said. “You play when you’re told to play and that’s a beautiful thing.”
Whether it’s Cole or Rodon, the Yankees are confident in whoever toes the slab for them. It’s been that way all season as they led all of MLB with a 3.24 team ERA.
“There’s no question I feel great about those guys, obviously. That’s been the biggest strength for us throughout the year,” Boone said of his rotation. “It sustained us. It got us through some difficult times. And I feel like they’re all in a good place right now. That’s one of the ways we’re going to have to do it, obviously leaning on the strength of those guys. But I like where they’re at.”
“Stick to our evaluation process and what we do, and our preparation,” Cole said of how the team can keep their momentum. “We played well, but we’ll look back, see what we could have done better and get ready for the next series.”
The best-of-five series with the Rays begins Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
