Gerrit Cole is arriving at exactly the right moment for the Yankees.
With the stretch run closing in and the playoffs looming, New York’s biggest need remains the same: get Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger back on the field. If that happens, and if those bats produce the way they’re supposed to, the Yankees suddenly look like a real American League pennant threat.
But the offense isn’t the only reason for optimism. The pitching staff is beginning to settle in, too, and Cole is right in the middle of it.
Cole made his debut a little more than a month ago after missing the entire 2025 season, and he’s now looking like the ace the Yankees expected. That was on full display Saturday in a 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves.
He worked seven innings, allowed two runs, didn’t issue a walk and struck out nine while needing only 82 pitches. Twice, he breezed through an inning on just eight pitches.
The start pulled his ERA down to 3.35, and his recent run has been even sharper. Over his last three outings, including Saturday, he has given up just three earned runs in 18.2 innings. He’s struck out 21 and walked only five in that span.
That’s the version of Cole the Yankees need.
And when you layer that on top of a rotation that already includes Cam Schlittler, who has been one of the best starting pitchers in the American League this season, plus a healthy Max Fried back in the mix, New York’s top three starters can stand with anyone.
That kind of rotation gives a team a real shot in any playoff series, especially the shorter ones early in October.
Now the Yankees are waiting on the other half of the equation: their top hitters.
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