NEW YORK – The Yankees need right-hander Gerrit Cole to be the stopper on Friday night against the Twins at Yankee Stadium – and for a good reason.
New York is currently on a seven-game losing streak and four games behind the Rays in the American League East standings. The Yankees’ skid is the worst such streak since Aug. 12-22, 2023, when they endured a nine-game losing streak.
Cole going deep against Minnesota would be helpful because the last time a Yankees pitcher recorded a quality start was against the Tigers on June 24, when left-hander Ryan Weathers pitched six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) in a 4-2 victory.
Since that time, New York’s starting rotation has a 5.34 ERA in 32 innings. During that same period, Yankees relievers have a 2.08 ERA in 30 1/3 innings.
Since recovering from Tommy John surgery, Cole has held his own, going 2-3 with a 4.06 ERA in seven games. Yes, he doesn't throw like the Cy Young Award winner of 2023, but opposing hitters have a slash line of .220/.290/.358 against him.
In his last start against the Red Sox on Saturday, Cole pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits in a 4-1 loss. After a rough start, in which he allowed four runs in the first three innings, Cole settled down by retiring nine out of the last 11 hitters he faced before being replaced by left-hander Brent Headrick.
“The last three or four innings, I thought he really got aggressive,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. “It was a little bit like, ‘Let’s just let it rip and get after it.’ I thought he finished really well, but obviously he made some mistakes early.”
Even catcher Austin Wells noticed Cole was a different pitcher after allowing a two-run double to Willson Contreras in the third inning.
“There’s going to be little things you slowly start to unlock and start to feel like yourself again,” Wells said. “He freed himself up from trying to be too perfect in the first couple of innings. He’s been carrying that for a little bit. He was able to break free from that in the last couple of innings; just go out there and pitch and not worry too much about the results.”
Now it’s the Twins’ turn to face Cole on Friday. If one were to base it on recent history, the Yankees’ losing streak could end. First of all, the Yankees have had their way with Minnesota, going 23-13 during the Boone era, which started in 2018.
Cole is undefeated against the Twins during his career. In six starts against Minnesota, he is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 34 innings.
If he is healthy, watch center fielder Byron Buxton against Cole. Buxton, the big man for Minnesota, is 2-for-7 with two home runs and four strikeouts against the right-hander. During his career against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Buxton has a slash line of .158/.273/.313 in 18 games.