NFL
By Billy Lewis:
The New York Yankees season was almost on dire straights before it officially started. On March 11 it was announced that reigning AL CY Young winner Gerrit Cole was going to have an MRI.
Cole is getting an MRI on his elbow, Boone told reporters in Clearwater. Boone said Cole has been having trouble bouncing back between starts.
— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) March 11, 2024
It is always worrisome for a pitcher to undergo an MRI, especially when it’s the ace of your staff and one of, if not the best pitchers in baseball. The Yankees and the injury bug have not been friends for the past few seasons so both fans and the organization itself had to be holding their breath waiting for the results for Cole.
Of course, the worst-case scenario after an MRI would be that a player needs to have Tommy John surgery, which puts an end to their season and could cause them to miss time the following season as well. For a pitcher of Cole’s stature, that could feel like a fatal blow for a season that has yet to begin.
Luckily, that does not appear to be the case for Cole. Cole won’t throw for about a month, but should hopefully be back in either May or June. Cole has led MLB in starts with 33 in each of the past two seasons and hasn’t made under 30 starts in a full season since 2016 when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Gerrit Cole Absence
Cole missing at least the first month or two of the season means the other pitchers are going to have to step up. Last year’s big offseason acquisition, Carlos Rodon, will need to start living up to his contract. Nestor Cortes will also need a bounce-back season. Free-agent acquisition Marcus Stroman has the opportunity to endear himself to Yankee fans with a good first two months.
So long as Cole’s injury does not become a season-long concern, the Yankees should be able to survive until he returns. From March through May of last season, Cole made 12 starts. Let’s assume he would have made the same 12 starts this year, if the Yankees can go 6-6 in those games and have the other starters pick up the slack in the other games, they will still be alright.
