The New York Yankees made the decision that folk weren’t positive they might make.
Gerrit Cole goes to begin Recreation 1 of the ALDS on Saturday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Regardless of struggles late within the season, Cole will get the ball for the sport in Tropicana Area that may very well be essential for the Yankees to win in what’s only a best-of-five sequence.
The Cole Practice involves Tampa for ALDS Recreation 1 🚂#RepBX pic.twitter.com/uTSBdY0ba3
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 2, 2026
Whether or not or not the Yankees ought to be beginning Cole will solely reveal itself on Saturday.
For now, there’s a cool little bit of historical past.
Gerrit Cole’s Historical past
Cole has a protracted historical past of beginning Recreation 1 in postseason sequence.
This can be his ninth Recreation 1 begin (when you additionally embrace the single-game Wild Card Sequence that used to exist).
That’s tied for fifth-most all-time, in line with MLB Community’s Sarah Langs.
Tied with Cole with 9 of those begins? CC Sabathia.
In fourth place on the all-time Recreation 1 begins record is Greg Maddux, who had 11.
There’s a tie for second place: Each Clayton Kershaw and Jon Lester began 12 of those video games.
And alone in first place, doubtlessly for a very long time: Justin Verlander, with 14.
This would be the ninth time Gerrit Cole begins Recreation 1 of a postseason sequence (together with singular Wild Card Recreation), tying CC Sabathia for Fifth-most all time, behind:
Justin Verlander: 14
Jon Lester: 12
Clayton Kershaw: 12
Greg Maddux: 11 https://t.co/NgopsVMhCQ— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 2, 2026
Gerrit Cole Stats
Cole completed the 2026 common season with a 3.61 ERA. That’s his worst mark since 2017.
To be honest, it’s nonetheless a extremely high quality quantity, however Cole did show a bit homer-prone late within the 12 months. He additionally had his lowest strikeout price (9.3 per 9 innings) since that 2017 season, as properly.
Cole has been an awesome playoff pitcher in his profession. He has a 2.77 ERA within the postseason.
Within the Yankees’ 2024 playoff run to the World Sequence, he had a 2.17 ERA in 5 video games.
Cole’s most up-to-date Recreation 1 begin was in Recreation 1 of the 2024 World Sequence. He allowed only one run in six innings.
Cole has as soon as confronted the Rays in an ALDS Recreation 1, as properly. That was in 2020. He went 6.0 innings and allowed three runs, together with two residence runs — Randy Arozarena with the primary one, and Ji-man Choi with the second.
That recreation clearly has no actual bearing on what occurs on Saturday. The Rays beat the Yankees for the AL East title. Now, the Yanks will attempt to avenge that by doubtlessly successful the ALDS. Cole must set the tone on the mound.
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