Featured Columnist IVSeptember 3, 2024
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New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was excellent through six innings during Monday’s game against the Texas Rangers, but his evening was cut short by an apparent leg injury.
The right-hander warmed up for the seventh inning but ended up leaving the game with a trainer before throwing a pitch in the frame. He grabbed at his right calf area and then signaled to the dugout that he needed to be removed.
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Discussion on Gerrit Cole’s exit Monday from @RealMichaelKay & @dcone36. pic.twitter.com/GihsGHfqHY
Cole exited with a 7-1 lead after allowing one earned run and four hits while striking out nine in six innings of work. Luke Weaver immediately allowed two runs in relief in the seventh, although the visitors had the run support thanks to their impressive start on the offensive side.
This is another setback for Cole, who didn’t make his debut this season until June 19.
He missed nearly the first three months of the season because of an elbow injury, which was unusual for someone who led the league with 33 starts two years in a row in 2022 and 2023. In fact, he has started at least 30 games in every season since the 2016 one outside of the shortened 2020 campaign.
While the 33-year-old hasn’t been as effective as he was last season as the American League Cy Young winner, he has still been a solid option for New York in 2024.
He entered Monday’s contest with a 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 63 innings and 12 starts and seemed to be rounding into form. After all, he didn’t allow a single run in two of his last three starts and was once again dialed in against the Rangers prior to the injury.
With Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt working their way back from injuries and getting closer to returning from the injured list, the Yankees can at least take solace knowing they will have some reinforcements in their starting rotation if Cole is sidelined.
Still, he is one of the best pitchers in the league with a resume that includes last year’s Cy Young, two ERA titles and six All-Star nods.
New York surely planned on relying on him down the stretch and into the playoffs, so a September injury is reason for concern.
