The Yankees unleashed $542 million worth of pitching aces Gerrit Cole and Max Fried in a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday, marking the first time these two titans have taken the mound together for New York. After a long wait, the baseball world finally saw what manager Aaron Boone had long envisioned.
Cole Strikes Out 11, Shows He’s Getting His Competitive Sea Legs
Gerrit Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young winner, absolutely brought the heat in the opening game, even though he didn’t get a decision in the 5-3, 10-inning loss. He struck out a whopping 11 batters, his highest total in three years, over seven innings, allowing three runs. This guy, who signed a nine-year, $324 million deal before the 2020 season, helped the Yankees reach the 2024 World Series. It’s wild to think he had elbow ligament reconstruction surgery just last March 11 and didn’t even return until May 22 this year. Despite that, he retired his first 14 batters before giving up a single to Nick Gonzales and a two-run shot to Jacob Gonzalez, with Nick Gonzales adding another solo homer in the seventh. Cole’s now 3-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 11 starts, with 66 Ks and 12 walks in 62 innings. That 11-strikeout game was his 64th double-digit strikeout performance, and a Yankees-record 29th. Manager Aaron Boone said Cole “is at a really good place” and “benefiting from now pitching every fifth and sixth day and getting back his competitive sea legs.” Even a balk in the sixth, when the pitch clock malfunctioned, couldn’t overshadow his performance. Cole admitted, “It is my fault. I broke and stepped off at the same time. I was startled that it was off.”
Fried’s Shocking Return: Five One-Hit Innings and a Win
Then came Max Fried, making a surprise return off the injured list for the nightcap. The dude hadn’t pitched since May 14 due to a bone bruise in his left elbow, but he absolutely dealt, throwing five innings of one-hit ball in a huge 2-0 win. Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million deal in December 2024 and led the majors in wins last year with a 19-5 record and 2.86 ERA, was originally slated for another Triple-A rehab outing. But a rain-postponed game led to the doubleheader, and Fried, already in the clubhouse, seized the moment. He joked with Boone about who was pitching, then got serious: “I was like, ‘Oh wait, we’re serious?’ I was like, ‘Yeah. Like, I mean, I’m going to pitching anyway.’ So I was , as soon as they said that, I said, ‘Yeah, you guys make the decision, but if you want me to pitch, I’m ready.’” And ready he was, striking out seven, walking one, and retiring his last 12 batters. He’s now 4-3 with a 2.97 ERA.
The Numbers Add Up, Literally!
With Cole’s number 45 and Fried’s 54, their combined power literally adds up to the injured captain Aaron Judge’s number 99. “I think you saw a master class today,” fellow Yankees pitcher Will Warren declared. Cole himself stated, “It’s nice that it’s finally come to fruition. A bit too long for of our both of our tastes.” Even with Judge still out, seeing these two aces dominate, showcasing their $542 million value, is a clear statement. The league just got a look at what this rotation can do.
What’s next for the Yankees? With Cole and Fried now seemingly settled into their spots, the focus shifts to how this rotation continues to impact their season. Watching these two back-to-back is going to be must-see baseball moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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