All eyes will be on Yankees ace Gerrit Cole as he makes his first start following last Saturday’s controversial game against the Boston Red Sox.
The New York Yankees are heading to California for a weekend series against the Oakland Athletics, with Cole set to pitch the opener on Friday at 9:40 pm ET.
In his last outing, Cole appeared to be in control through 3.1 innings before intentionally walking Rafael Devers with no one on base and one out in the fourth inning.
Things quickly fell apart after that decision, leading to Cole giving up seven earned runs in 4.1 innings.
Many fans have since questioned Cole’s mental state, calling him various names, with some speculating whether he can mentally recover from the incident.
The key question is whether Cole can shake off the criticism, refocus, and deliver the kind of performance the Yankees need as they push toward the playoffs.
Historically, Cole has shown resilience and the ability to bounce back from difficult situations. However, this is a unique challenge for the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, who is currently 6-5 with a 3.97 ERA this season.
Despite last Saturday’s struggles, there’s no reason to believe he can’t regain his form starting with Friday’s game. The Yankees need him at his best as they aim for a first-round playoff bye and other postseason goals.
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