The New York Yankees are undecided on their ALDS Game 1 starter; Gerrit Cole hopes he is the one. However, the last time Cole pitched in the postseason, the Yankees lost the World Series. Two years later, Cole is ready to return to October baseball after the Yankees routed the Boston Red Sox. As manager Aaron Boone has yet to pick a starter, with the Tampa Bay Rays awaiting them, Cole expressed his interest in getting back to the mound.

“Some good baseball. Yeah, just excited. I haven’t pitched in a while, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there,” a champagne-drenched Gerrit Cole told Nikki Lattarulo of SNY.

Gerrit Cole made his highly anticipated return to the New York Yankees rotation after missing the entire 2025 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery combined with an internal brace procedure in March last year. After posting a 10-9 record with a 3.61 ERA in the regular season, Cole was lined up to start in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, if needed. However, teammates Cam Schlittler and Max Fried dominated the Red Sox lineup, as the Yankees swept them to advance into the ALDS. They will face the division toppers, the Tampa Bay Rays, during Game 1 on Saturday. The Rays won the season series with a 7-6 record over the Yankees.

However, the Yankees are still undecided on their Game 1 starter. Neither Schlittler nor Fried will take the mound on Saturday, having pitched in Games 1 and 2 of AL Wild Card Series. Schlittler will be ready to pitch on Sunday. Since Cole was lined up to start on Thursday, it would make sense for him to take the Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS. Cole holds a cumulative postseason ERA of 2.77 and a 11-6 record in 22 starts. His numbers are certainly reliable.

The last time he pitched in a playoff game was in 2024, in the infamous Game 4 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw 6.2 innings, allowing 5 earned runs as the Dodgers clinched the World Series title.

This year, Cole recorded his last start on September 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Throwing 5.2 innings, he took the win for the Yankees. Cole allowed 2 earned runs on 3 hits, including a home run. He also issued three walks while striking out 8.

If he takes the mound in Game 1 of the ALDS, Cole will pitch after almost 10 days.

“It’s a postseason, man. There’s no expectations. You play when you’re told to play, and it’s a beautiful thing,” Cole told SNY when asked about the longer gap.

Apart from Cole, Carlos Rodon can also take the mound in Game 1 of the ALDS. Like Cole, the last time Rodon pitched was against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 22. He recorded a stellar 8.0 scoreless innings, limiting the Rays to only 3 hits while striking out 8.

This year, Rodon also recorded a delayed regular-season start after he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies and a bone spur from his elbow last October. Rodon made his season debut on May 10 against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the regular season, Rodon logged a 2.67 ERA with a 7-3 record in 16 starts. Furthermore, he has only thrown 84.1 innings this season, compared to Cole’s 127 innings.

Ultimately, it’s up to Aaron Boone to pick the best option for his team.

Aaron Boone on ALDS Game 1 starter

The New York Yankees first met the Tampa Bay Rays in June 1998 and won 7-1. Since then, the two teams have gone head-to-head 489 times. The Yankees lead the Rays 278-to-211. The Yankees have won three out of five times they met in the postseason. They are set for another clash, this time pursuing the division series. Manager Aaron Boone has multiple high-stakes decisions to make, such as who will be the starter in Game 1. With October 3 approaching rapidly, Boone weighed his options while speaking to the reporters.

“We’ll talk about that,” said Boone, per SNY. “Obviously, Gerrit’s lined up for that. Carlos [Rodon] is very much in play for that. We have a ton of confidence in both guys. I think they’re both throwing the ball really well. That will be what we do here these next couple of days as we get ready. It’s possible. It’s definitely possible. Again, it’s a long ways away.”

Meanwhile, the Rays have revealed their preferred starter for the ALDS Game 1. Manager Kevin Cash announced Drew Rasmussen as their starter for Saturday.

Rasmussen holds a 5-2 career record against the Yankees with a 1.81 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 11 appearances. With the Rays’ starter revealed, perhaps Aaron Boone will find it easier to build his ALDS team.