Cole will start for the Yankees on Opening Day against San Francisco, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Cole as the team's Opening Day starter Monday, but the decision was essentially a foregone conclusion. Cole is considered one of the top pitchers in baseball and is set to toe the mound for the Yankees on Opening Day for the fourth straight season. The veteran right-hander led the majors with 257 strikeouts last season while posting a 3.50 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 200.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Nears triple-digit velocity
Rotowire
Cole topped out at 99 mph in his spring pitching debut Friday, per Max Goodman of SI.com, and he tossed three scoreless innings against Detroit during which he allowed one hit and no walks while striking out four batters.
Based on Cole's results in his first Grapefruit League appearance, the veteran hurler appears primed for the regular season. The right-hander threw 37 of 51 pitches for strikes and allowed just two baserunners -- one on a double and the other on an error. Though Cole's 3.50 ERA last season was his worst since 2017, he still posted an impressive 1.02 WHIP and 32.4 percent strikeout rate, and he's consistently been among the first three starting pitchers off the board in 2023 fantasy drafts.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Set for spring debut Friday
Rotowire
Cole is expected to start Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Cole has been tossing bullpen sessions but has yet to throw in a game this spring. He'll likely toe the mound against Detroit on Friday, though Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports that New York is "leaving the door open" for the veteran right-hander to toss a live BP session instead. Cole will enter the regular season as the team's ace after posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 257:50 K:BB over 200.2 innings last season.
