The New York Yankees entered the season with high expectations, but their ace, Gerrit Cole, is now at the center of major concerns.
The 2023 AL Cy Young winner underwent an MRI this past season due to elbow discomfort, and while surgery wasn’t required, lingering issues have raised serious doubts about his availability for 2024.
Could this derail the Yankees’ World Series aspirations?
Click the image for live odds
Cole’s Dominance Before the Injury
Since signing his $324 million megadeal with the Yankees in 2020, Cole has been nothing short of elite.
His career stats showcase why he’s considered one of the best pitchers in baseball:
✅ 145-75 career record
✅ 3.17 ERA
✅ 2,152 strikeouts over 1,800+ innings
✅ Six-time All-Star, AL Cy Young (2023)
Before the elbow issues, Cole was on another dominant run, finishing the 2023 season with a 15-4 record, 2.63 ERA, and 222 strikeouts. His ability to control the game, eat innings, and overpower hitters has made him the backbone of the Yankees’ rotation.
Why the Yankees Are Worried
Even though Cole avoided major surgery, the Yankees remain concerned about his long-term health. The elbow discomfort could mean he’s not 100% even if he returns, which would be devastating for New York’s rotation.
| Shohei Ohtani Stats | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerrit Cole | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | WHIP |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 3.41 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 95 | 99 | 1.126 |
| Carrer | 153 | 80 | 3.18 | 317 | 317 | 0 | 1954 | 2251 | 1.089 |
Without Cole, the Yankees’ pitching depth looks shaky:
🔹 Carlos Rodón – Coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued season.
🔹 Nestor Cortes Jr. – Solid but inconsistent.
🔹 Clarke Schmidt & Luis Gil – Unproven at an elite level.
Without their ace, the Yankees could struggle to compete with the Astros, Rangers, and Orioles in the AL.
Betting Impact – Are the Yankees Still a Championship Team?
With Cole, the Yankees are a serious title contender. Without him? Their World Series odds take a massive hit.
Bettors should monitor his status closely before making long-term wagers on New York’s success.
🚨 If Cole misses significant time, fading the Yankees in futures markets might be the smartest move.
🎥 Check out Ohtani’s best highlights here!
| Title: Gerrit Cole’s Injury: A Major Blow to the Yankees’ Championship Hopes?
| Author: Michael Rinnier
| Date: Mar 8th, 2025
The Handicapper911.com simulation model, which simulates every MLB game thousands of times, up over 150 units over the last three years. A $100 bettor of our MLB would have netted a profit of $15,000+ and, a $1,000 bettor would have won $150,000+. We offer picks on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, XFL, PGA Golf and NCAA Basketball and Football. Now is the time to sign-up, get all the picks, and start winning.
Click here to open a package and get access to all of our simulations for as little as $99.99 per month!
