Gerrit Cole out of Phillies game, Will Warren to start for Yankees

Follow Us

The New York Yankees have scratched Gerrit Cole from his scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night due to general body fatigue, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Rookie Will Warren will step in to start in Cole’s place.

Gerrit Cole misses start vs. Phillies

Gerrit Cole’s season has been marred by challenges, as the star pitcher missed the first two and a half months of the 2024 campaign due to right elbow discomfort. Since returning, he has struggled to find his form. Over his first seven starts, Gerrit Cole has a 3-2 record with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts across 35 innings.

The 33-year-old told reporters on Tuesday that he felt “run down” and found it “hard to bounce back” from his last start against the New York Mets, where he allowed six runs, including three homers, in a 12-3 loss. “I’m frustrated—frustrated sitting in the emotions of this loss,” he said. “But our job is to flush it and not let the play of the last six weeks affect the way we prepare for the next game.”

Despite his fatigue, Gerrit Cole – who boasts one of the highest net worths in the league – assured that he wasn’t dealing with any elbow issues. He mentioned that while he doesn’t expect to pitch tomorrow, he plans to return for the Yankees‘ next series against the Toronto Blue Jays, using the break to put some “gas in the tank.” Manager Aaron Boone later revealed that Gerrit Cole had been dealing with a stomach virus for several days, which contributed to his overall fatigue.

The Yankees’ pitching staff has faced its share of struggles this season, with a team ERA of 5.26 in June and 4.26 in July. In response to these challenges, the Yankees have made several moves ahead of the trade deadline to strengthen their roster. They have added infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to their lineup and bolstered their bullpen with Mark Leiter Jr. Given Gerrit Cole’s condition, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Yankees pursue additional options to strengthen their rotation.

Will Warren, who will start in place of Gerrit Cole, has had a mixed season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The rookie holds a 5-5 record with a 6.11 ERA and 115 strikeouts over 95.2 innings across 20 starts. He faces a significant challenge in making his MLB debut against the Phillies’ potent lineup.

As the Yankees navigate this critical period, they remain hopeful that Gerrit Cole can quickly return to his dominant form. His performance will be crucial for the team’s playoff aspirations, and they will need contributions from both their veterans and emerging talents like Warren to stay competitive in the tightly contested AL East.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Follow Us