Gerrit Cole Fantasy Stats

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole received a no-decision in the team's 5-3 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in Game 1 of their doubleheader, but he also had his third straight quality start for his fantasy managers. Cole allowed three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out a season-high 11 batters in seven innings of work to lower his ERA on the year to 3.92. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner was dominant with his fastball on the day and now sits with a 3-5 record, 3.92 ERA and 66:12 K:BB in his 62 innings and 11 starts after getting a late start to the year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. While Cole obviously hasn't been perfect in 2026, he has yet to give up more than three earned runs in any of his 11 outings, and he's now struck out at least six batters in all four of his starts in July. He came into Wednesday's outing with just a 23.9% strikeout rate, but his career-low 5.2% walk rate has to be extremely encouraging that he can perform like a fantasy ace for the rest of the 2026 season.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole had the start of his 2026 season delayed by recovery from Tommy John surgery. Since returning in late May, the veteran right-hander has recorded a 3-4 record with a 4.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 49 innings (nine starts). Cole is averaging 96.7 miles per hour on his fastball and has avoided free passes, allowing just a 5.3% walk rate. However, his strikeout rate has dipped to 22.7%, well below his career mark of 28.5%. Still, the 35-year-old's biggest issues have come from the long ball, as he's allowed 1.47 HR/9. While Cole has had issues with home runs at different points in his Yankee career, he allowed just 0.86 HR/9 in 2023 and 1.04 HR/9 in 2024. Fantasy managers should no longer expect SP1 production from Cole. However, with some slight improvement in his strikeout rate and some regression to the mean in his home run rate, Cole could still be a very valuable pitcher in the second half of the season.

New York Yankees veteran right-hander Gerrit Cole is quickly making up for lost time in 2026 after getting a late start to the season while recovering from right-elbow surgery last March. In just his second start for the Yankees this year on Wednesday night on the road against the Kansas City Royals, Cole threw 6 2/3 shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking none, and striking out a season-high 10 batters. The 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner built on his impressive season debut on May 22 against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, in which he threw six shutout innings with two hits allowed, three walks, and two strikeouts. Cole induced 15 whiffs in the contest, and his fastball sat around 97 mph. It's exactly what fantasy managers were hoping for when they stashed the former first overall pick to begin the 2026 season. He might just be getting started, too, as he has yet to exceed 80 pitches in his first two starts. Cole should have a longer leash going forward, and he'll be a must-start in all fantasy leagues for his third start, which is scheduled to come next week against the Cleveland Guardians.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) will come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Cole missed the entire 2025 season after having Tommy John surgery last March. The 35-year-old former first overall pick in 2011 out of UCLA had a 4.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 28 strikeouts, and only three walks in 29 innings over six minor-league rehab starts with High-A Hudson Valley, Double-A Somerset, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He should not be limited from a pitch-count perspective in his season debut on Friday after throwing 86 pitches in 5 1/3 innings in his final rehab start last Saturday. However, fantasy managers should take a cautious approach with Cole in his first outing back in the big leagues against the first-place Rays. Cole was named the American League Cy Young winner in 2023, making him a must-roster veteran arm with strikeout upside, even though he's been away from the Yankees for a full year.

The New York Yankees are discussing having right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) return to their starting rotation instead of making his final minor-league rehab start, but that hasn't been officially set yet, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We're talking through everything," according to manager Aaron Boone. Cole has been looking good on the farm as he rehabs back from Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all of last year, and the 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner allowed just one run with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. If the Yankees decide that Cole is ready for his 2026 debut in the big leagues, he will most likely make his first start for the team this Friday in a tough matchup against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. Cole is a potential fantasy ace when he's right, but we wouldn't recommend starting him right away this weekend if he takes the hill versus Tampa. He's still available in 15% of Yahoo leagues, so fantasy managers should run to the waiver wire and add him immediately if he's floating around on your league's wire.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) looked good in his latest minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday night, allowing just one earned run on six hits while walking one and striking out six in 5 1/3 innings while his fastball cracked 99 mph, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. The expectation is that Cole will make one more rehab start before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut with the Yankees. The 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner threw 56 of his 86 pitches for strikes and was lighting up the radar gun, a sign that he's close to being fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that wiped out his entire 2025 season. Cole could be inconsistent in the big leagues as he works his way back after a long layoff, but his pedigree as a major-league ace makes him absolutely worth stashing in all fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues. Scoop Cole up immediately if he's available in your league.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) took a step forward in his fifth minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Double-A Somerset, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out eight in five innings of work. Cole got up to 77 pitches in his latest outing and didn't give up a home run for the first time as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery that he had last March. It was an encouraging performance from the former Cy Young winner and six-time All-Star, although he will probably require another rehab start or two before the Yankees reinstate him from the 15-day injured list. But barring a setback with his right elbow, Cole should rejoin New York's starting rotation before the end of May. In his five rehab starts, he's posted a 5.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and only two walks in 23 2/3 innings pitched. Home runs have been an issue, but his control has been a bright spot. Fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for Cole initially when he returns to the Bronx, but he should be scooped up if he's available on your league's waiver wire. He's rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to make his fourth minor-league rehab start on Tuesday, May 5, for High-A Hudson Valley, according to MLB.com. Cole made his third rehab start on April 29, going 5 2/3 innings while throwing 60 pitches and sitting at 93-96 mph with his fastball. Overall in his three rehab starts, the 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner has a bloated 5.02 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and only one walk in 14 1/3 innings pitched. Cole has been hurt by the long ball (four homers allowed) while on the farm, but otherwise, he's looked good and has slowly built up his pitch count as he looks to return to the Yankees' starting rotation. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery that kept him out for the entire 2025 campaign. There's a chance that Cole's rehab outing on Tuesday could be his last before he's reinstated from the 15-day injured list. The former first overall pick will be eased back into New York's rotation after his long layoff, but he's worth stashing in all fantasy leagues to see if he can return to ace form for the second half of the season. Right now, he's only rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole's (elbow) next scheduled minor-league rehab start will come on Tuesday with High-A Hudson Valley, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. Cole went 5 2/3 innings in his latest rehab start on Wednesday with Double-A Somerset, but the 35-year-old hasn't exactly looked great so far in the minors as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery early last year that kept him out for all of 2025. The former first overall pick out of UCLA in 2011 has been knocking off the rust with a 4.40 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and one walk in his three rehab appearances. Cole is understandably taking a little longer than fellow rotation mate Carlos Rodon (elbow) in his return, and although he's had some trouble with the long ball, Cole remains on track to rejoin New York's rotation in a couple of weeks or so, barring a setback. He's rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues right now. Cole could be more of a question mark initially as he works his way back from a long layoff, but fantasy managers are willing to gamble on the chance he finds his pre-injury form as an ace.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) allowed three earned runs on three hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings on Wednesday in his latest minor-league rehab start for Double-A Somerset. Cole threw 45 of his 60 pitches for strikes in his third rehab start. The 35-year-old veteran has now allowed four home runs in his three rehab starts, posting a 4.40 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and only one walk. The only news that really matters is that Cole is healthy and progressing after the Tommy John surgery he had at the start of last year, which kept him from pitching for the Yankees all season. Cole will likely need another rehab start or two before the Yankees feel comfortable reinstating him from the injured list, but his 2026 season debut is getting closer. The six-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner will ease back into the Yankees' starting rotation when he returns, but he could be a difference-maker eventually in 2026 in fantasy and should be stashed everywhere. Cole is currently rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.