Yankees’ Gerrit Cole to return to mound vs. Blue Jays this weekend

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Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake has confirmed about Gerrit Cole’s potential return to the starting rotation on Sunday. The Yankees ace, who was sidelined from his scheduled start on Tuesday due to body fatigue, engaged in a catch session on Wednesday before the Yankees’ final game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Gerrit Cole reported feeling fine after the session.

The next step for the ace pitcher is a bullpen session on Friday. If he passes that test without any setbacks, he is expected to start against the Blue Jays in New York. He threw in the bullpen on Wednesday.

Gerrit Cole’s return is vital for the Yankees, as he missed a significant portion of the first half of the season due to elbow inflammation sustained during spring training.

With no new additions to their rotation at the trade deadline, the Yankees are relying heavily on Gerrit Cole to recapture his Cy Young-caliber form for the stretch run. His performance has been inconsistent over his first seven starts, making his successful return even more crucial for the team’s playoff aspirations.

After throwing a bullpens session on Wednesday, Gerrit Cole felt no fatigue issues, according to YES Network’s Meredith Marakovitz.

“I threw before the game and felt good, so the plan is to start Sunday,” the Yankees ace said.

Gerrit Cole gets a playful snub by Phanatic

An entertaining moment between the Philadelphia Phillies’ mascot, the Phanatic, and New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole occurred during Wednesday’s game at Citizens Bank Park, captivating fans both in the stadium and online.

During an inning break, the Phanatic was engaging the crowd near the Yankees‘ dugout when Cole, in a light-hearted gesture, tossed a pen to the mascot, requesting an autograph on a baseball. The Phanatic, steadfast in his allegiance to the Phillies, humorously refused to sign the ball. Instead, the mascot scribbled a playful message declaring his loyalty to the Phillies and left the ball on the ground, forcing Cole to retrieve it.

As Cole picked up the ball in the next inning, his exaggerated display of disappointment added to the amusement, drawing laughter from the crowd. The exchange, caught on camera by the YES Network, quickly went viral. Reactions from fans were mixed, with some finding the Phanatic’s antics inappropriate, while others praised the mascot’s spirited dedication to the home team.

In the broader context of the series, the Yankees triumphed over the Phillies with a narrow 6-5 win on Wednesday, securing the road series. This victory elevated the Yankees’ record to 65-45, while the Phillies, despite maintaining the best record in MLB, saw their record dip to 65-43.

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