Why Yankees are evasive over naming Gerrit Cole as starter for ALDS Game 1

When the Yankees gave Gerrit Cole a $324-million contract before the 2020 season, it seemed like he would be their best pitcher for a long time. Now, he might not be the team’s first choice to play in the playoffs.

Before the Yankees play the winner of the Guardians and Rays wild-card series in the American League Division Series on Tuesday in The Bronx, Aaron Boone, his coaching staff, and the front office need to have an answer to the question, “Who goes first?”

Aaron Boone, the manager of the Yankees, still hasn’t said if Gerrit Cole or anyone else will start Game 1.

Gerrit Cole has shown glimpses of what makes him one of the best pitchers in the game at times. But Boone has changed his tune a little bit after initially stating on “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman,” a baseball podcast hosted, that Gerrit Cole would start the first playoff game.

When asked on Wednesday if he had changed his mind regarding the starting pitcher for Game 1, Boone responded, “It hasn’t changed. I’m just making sure that’s the path I want to take before I commit to it.

Gerrit Cole has had a good season. He made 33 starts and had a 13-8 record and a 3.50 ERA. Cole also gave up the most home runs in his league, 33, which is nine more than he gave up in 2021.

But Nestor Cortes, who came out of nowhere, did better. Cortes went 12-4 in 28 starts and had an ERA of 2.44, which would have put him fifth in the AL if he had pitched 162 innings to qualify for the ERA title.

Due to an injury to his right foot, DJ LeMahieu is unsure as to whether or not he will be able to play in the ALDS. However, he had his opinion about the starting pitcher:

“Going into the postseason, this is the best starting rotation we’ve had here in my four years. I feel like our starters can match up with anybody.”

In addition to this, pitching coach Matt Blake — and even Gerrit Cole — stated that the topic was worthy of discussion given how well Cortes itched in the latter innings of the game.

And still others, such as some executives and scouts from the opposing teams, are of the opinion that Luis Severino ought to start on Tuesday.

Boone said on Wednesday that he would like to let others know who will start Game 1 by the weekend so that everyone can start getting ready.

He said that Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, or Luis Severino could get the job.

“We have a ton of great choices now, and we feel like where Sevy is, where Gerrit is, where Nestor is, I feel good walking into a series — like I said earlier — about anyone. I’m leaning toward making that decision sooner than later so I can get these guys lined up.”

Gerrit Cole might have another advantage if he waits until the Yankees find out who their opponent is. This season, he has been especially good against the Rays, who lost the first game of their wild-card series to Cleveland on Friday.

Gerrit Cole only let Tampa Bay score three runs in 25 1/3 innings over four starts against them (1.07 ERA). His numbers against the Guardians were less impressive (and similar to Cortes’): two runs in 12 2/3 innings over two games.

Cortes has been the starter for the Yankees and remains reliable. He ended in a better way than Gerrit Cole. In 33 1/3 innings over his last six starts, the left-handed pitcher gave up just five runs and one home run.

In the game against Tampa Bay, he pitched 24 2/3 innings and gave up nine runs. In the game against Cleveland, he pitched 12 1/3 innings and gave up three runs. His WHIP was a microscopic 0.49.

Cortes, who is 27 years old, will be making his first playoff appearance whenever he does take the mound in this series, in contrast to Gerrit Cole, who has started 14 postseason games over the course of his career.

And then there’s Severino, who, in the three starts he’s made since returning from a strained lat muscle, has demonstrated that he’s capable of being just as dominant as any other pitcher in the game. Severino finished his last start against the Rangers by going seven innings without allowing a hit while allowing just three runs over a total of 16 innings pitched in his previous starts. In addition to that, he has pitched in nine postseason games, making eight starts.

Jameson Taillon is another option. However, the Yankees will rely heavily on their rotation because their bullpen is in bad shape.

What do you think should start game 1, Gerrit Cole or Cortes?