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Gerrit Cole to Make Season Debut on Friday Against Rays
New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) will come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Cole missed the entire 2025 season after having Tommy John surgery last March. The 35-year-old former first overall pick in 2011 out of UCLA had a 4.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 28 strikeouts, and only three walks in 29 innings over six minor-league rehab starts with High-A Hudson Valley, Double-A Somerset, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He should not be limited from a pitch-count perspective in his season debut on Friday after throwing 86 pitches in 5 1/3 innings in his final rehab start last Saturday. However, fantasy managers should take a cautious approach with Cole in his first outing back in the big leagues against the first-place Rays. Cole was named the American League Cy Young winner in 2023, making him a must-roster veteran arm with strikeout upside, even though he's been away from the Yankees for a full year.
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
