Gerrit Cole’s first start of the 2024 season with the Yankees was successful, but his second outing against the Mets did not go as well. Cole struggled over four innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, including four home runs. He also walked four batters and did not record a single strikeout.
Despite his poor performance, there were some positives to take away from the game. Cole threw 72 pitches, more than in any of his previous rehab starts or his season debut. Although his fastball velocity decreased after the first inning, Cole stated that he was healthy and intentionally dialed back the velocity to work efficiently and avoid an early exit due to a pitch limit.
Cole is expected to pitch next on Sunday against the Blue Jays, and his teammates believe he will bounce back from this tough start. Aaron Judge expressed confidence in Cole’s abilities and looks forward to seeing him pitch every five days. Cole himself acknowledged his poor execution and expressed a desire to learn from his mistakes and improve in his next outing.