Gerrit Cole has become one of the poster children for Major League Baseball’s crackdown on foreign substances for pitchers. The New York Yankees‘ ace had seen his spin rate drastically improve during his time with the Astros, with allegations that he was using foreign substances beginning almost immediately.
Those whispers have become shouts at this point in time. Cole was shelled by the Red Sox on Sunday, including a barrage in the first inning.
First time in Cole's career that he's ever allowed multiple homers in the first inning.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) June 27, 2021
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole lands in sticky situation
While Cole’s overall numbers this season are still impressive, he has not been the same pitcher he was before June. As of the point that MLB announced that there would be checks on the baseballs, and then checks on the pitchers themselves, he has posted an ERA over 5.00.
The Red Sox took advantage on Sunday. Enrique Hernandez led off the game with a home run, giving Cole a sense of how the day would be. Rafael Devers belted a three run homer in the first, crushing a dead center fastball 451 feet to right. For good measure, J.D. Martinez belted another homer against Cole in the third. Those three homers are the most allowed by Cole in a game this season.
Needless to say, Cole did not give the Yankees the type of performance they were hoping for. He allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits and two walks, striking out six over his five innings. For a team that has been struggling, and desperately needed Cole to dominate, his outing was all the more disappointing.
This does not mean that he will be unable to help the Yankees going forward. Cole had posted three consecutive quality starts prior to Sunday’s disastrous outing, allowing just two runs in each of those appearances. However, his occasional hiccups, especially after the crackdown on foreign substances, are going to lead to plenty of speculation. Sunday’s outing just throws more fuel on the fire.
Gerrit Cole found himself in a sticky situation immediately on Sunday. The New York Yankees ace just has not been the same in June.