It has been a minute. Cole hasn't thrown a big-league pitch since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, then Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2025. Now he gets the ball against a Tampa team that is 33-15, sitting atop the AL East, and rolling out the second-best ERA in the sport on the mound.
That would be Nick Martinez at 1.51, behind only Cam Schlittler. The 35-year-old has given up 2 earned runs or fewer in each of his 9 starts this season on a 1-year, $13 million deal — the kind of value contract the Rays keep finding under the couch cushions. The Yankees catch him at the worst possible time.
Tampa Bay is 15-2 over its last 17 after a 5-7 start, including a sweep of the Orioles by a combined 25-10. The Yankees, meanwhile, just split four with Toronto and got shut out in the finale. The vibes are very much pointing in one direction here, and Cole — touching 99.6 in his last rehab outing at Triple-A — is being asked to flip them.
The bigger reason he's back a turn early: Max Fried hit the IL with an elbow bone bruise last Friday, and the rotation needed a pulse. Cole told the Yankees he was ready after his last minor-league start. Boone trusted it. Whether 6-plus innings of crispness shows up against a lineup that just dropped 16 on Baltimore is the question.
The market still loves the Yankees at home — -147 ML, -1 on the runline — which feels like a Cole-name premium given he hasn't pitched in 19 months. Total sits at 8. If you trust the rust, the Rays at +134 against a guy on a strict pitch count isn't the worst look in the world.
- Day-To-DayYandy Diaz DH — Diaz (hand) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Orioles.
- Day-To-DayAustin Vernon RP — The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.
- Day-To-DayLogan Driscoll C — The Rays released Driscoll (ankle) on Friday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
- Day-To-DayKeyshawn Askew RP — no
- Day-To-DayTre' Morgan 1B — Triple-A Durham placed Morgan on the 7-day injured list with a quad injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.
- Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga RP — no
- Day-To-DayTJ Nichols P — Double-A Montgomery placed Nichols on its 7-day injured list April 7 due to an unspecified injury.
- 10-Day-ILBen Williamson 2B — Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Williamson is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Orioles due to back tightness, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
- Day-To-DayTrent Grisham CF — Imaging on Grisham's left knee came back negative Thursday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTravis MacGregor SP — MacGregor underwent Tommy John surgery last September and will miss the entire 2019 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJose Caballero SS — Caballero (finger) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- 10-Day-ILJasson Dominguez LF — Dominguez (shoulder) resumed hitting off a tee Wednesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- 10-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton DH — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Stanton (calf) is doing "more dynamic stuff" but isn't yet ready to ramp up running, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- 15-Day-ILGerrit Cole SP — Manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Cole (elbow) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Friday versus the Rays, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILMax Fried SP — The Yankees placed Fried on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a left elbow bone bruise, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- 15-Day-ILAngel Chivilli RP — Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Chivilli (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for roughly three weeks, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Tampa is without Jake Fraley (hernia surgery, 6-8 weeks) and Ryan Pepiot (hip, done for the year), plus Yandy Diaz is day-to-day with a hand issue. The Yankees are missing Stanton, Dominguez, and now Fried — which is exactly why getting Cole back tonight matters more than the rehab timeline suggested it would.