BOSTON — Gerrit Cole strode confidently into Fenway Park’s cramped visitors’ clubhouse Saturday afternoon, a big smile on his face.
He insisted it wasn’t because he knew his next start would be against the Yankees, having successfully completed his third rehab start on Friday night in Rochester.
“We had some mechanical issues with the plane and we weren’t sure if we were going to get here,” Cole said with a smile. “Then something magical happened and we got here.”
Cole may not need to work much magic to face the Orioles on Wednesday or Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
Both Cole and head coach Aaron Boone said they hadn’t yet made a decision on that matter, but that serious discussions would take place in the coming days to make a final decision.
Cole, meanwhile, was pleased with how he felt Saturday after striking out 10 in 4 1/3 innings at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and upping his pitch count to 70. He’s set to throw 80-85 pitches in his next start.
“I feel like things are going well,” Cole said, “but I’m not expecting to be back and throw 100 pitches, so there’s still a long way to go. But as I get closer, the excitement grows.”
Cole suggested the decision on whether he needs to make one more rehab start will be based on how his recovery goes and what the “computer” reveals Friday night about what he’s pitching, his velocity and where he’s pitching.
“It looked pretty good to me,” Cole said, “but you have to be thorough in that situation.”
Cole will have a big say in how things move forward, but he and Boone both said the decision will be a joint one.
“There’s a lot of good, smart people involved,” Boone said. “I think we’ve all done a really good job so far of preparing and getting him ready, so we’re going to have honest, open discussions and Gerrit will be involved in that.”
When it became clear that Cole would miss the first two months of the season with neuritis in his elbow, the first concern was how the Yankees would hold up without him.
Cole is now just focused on staying out of the way as he nears his return, and he has noted several times that the starting pitchers have done a good job of getting through innings, which has kept the bullpen fresh.
Bill Costloan/New York Post
He’s not fully strengthened yet, and they don’t want to risk hurting the bullpen if his minutes as a starter get cut short.
“it is [the decision] “Obviously, he’s not fully developed yet,” Boone said, “but whatever direction it goes in, we feel like we’re in a good position to handle it.”
The fact that the Yankees have one rest day a week, starting Monday, could work to Cole’s advantage, as it would allow the bullpen to be better rested even if he is forced to pitch shortstop.
Cole acknowledged there will be an extra rush of adrenaline in his debut this season and said he has to take that into account.
That assessment would be even higher if they faced a division rival like the Orioles and put their lineup to the immediate test.
The Yankees are in good form even without their ace, with their starting pitching staff performing well and Cole’s replacement, Luis Gil, leading the major leagues with the lowest starting pitcher ERA (2.77), so they are ready to wholeheartedly welcome Cole back.
That could happen as early as this week, but it would be a big boost for a team that became the first to reach 50 wins on Friday.
“I definitely felt like I hit some pretty good shots. [of getting big league hitters out Friday] “Definitely tonight,” Cole said. “You never know until you know, you know? But we’re going to be as prepared as we can be.”
