ST. PETERSBURG -- For most of last summer, Gerrit Cole wasn’t allowed to pick up a baseball. Many nights, he’d lie awake and stare at the ceiling, pitching anyway -- picturing showdowns against whatever team the Yankees happened to be facing that week.
He didn’t give up many hits.
Cole won’t have to imagine those pitch sequences on Saturday. The veteran right-hander will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, the club announced Friday morning.
“It's incredibly special,” Cole said. “Considering coming back from surgery, there's not much more I could ask for. I feel tremendously blessed.”
Cole had been slated to start Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, but New York dispatched Boston in a two-game sweep.
“It was an easy [decision] for me once Gerrit didn't pitch in that Wild Card,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He was lined up here. We like him here. We like him, obviously, kicking off the series for us. I’m excited to give him the ball.”
Recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in March 2025, the 36-year-old went 10-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 22 starts. Cole recorded 131 strikeouts in 127 innings, having made his season debut on May 22.
“I do feel, to a certain extent, I've been pitching all year,” Cole said. “I feel that I've had opportunities to settle into the season and settle into the routine, so that there's really nothing new approaching me at this point.”
Had Cole pitched a Game 3 vs. Boston, Carlos Rodón was in line to start Game 1 of a potential ALDS. Boone said Rodón now lines up for Game 3 or Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.
“Carlos has been a consideration, literally, Game 1 of the Wild Card, 2 of the Wild Card, potentially Game 3, and every game moving forward,” Boone said. “So it's one of those good, difficult decisions we have, because we have four guys that are very high-end. So it's at least a conversation every time.”
This will be Cole’s 23rd career postseason appearance -- all starts -- and his first since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, when he allowed five unearned runs in 6 2/3 innings in a series-ending defeat. He has pitched to a 2.93 ERA in 12 career playoff starts with the Yankees.
Cole will face Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a two-time All-Star whose 2.67 ERA ranked seventh-lowest among qualified starting pitchers in 2026.
“Shoot, I feel like every time we play them, it's a tight game -- it's a dogfight,” Rasmussen said. “I'd say that's probably what should be expected.”
It will be Cole’s second consecutive start against Tampa Bay, having faced them on Sept. 23 at Yankee Stadium, when he picked up the win in the Yankees’ 9-2 victory. Cole made three starts this season against the Rays, allowing three runs or fewer in all three outings.
“They’re a complete lineup from top to bottom,” Cole said.
He owns a 3.33 ERA across 23 career starts against the Rays, his most against any team. Cole has also faced off against Tampa Bay four times in the postseason, including twice in the 2020 ALDS.
“When you get to playoff baseball, you just want to be in there as much as possible,” Cole said.