TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
NEW MONTH, NEW RAYS — The Rays recorded their third straight victory on Tuesday night in the Bronx, besting the Yankees by a 5-2 final…RF Manuel Margot (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) opened the scoring with a ground-rule RBI-double in the second frame, marking the third straight game in which Tampa Bay has scored first…1B Yandy Díaz (1-for-4, HR, RBI, R, BB) led off the third inning with his career-high 15th homer of the season before LF Randy Arozarena (1-for-3, HR, 2RBI, R, BB) snapped an 0-for-21 skid with his 18th homer later in the inning, a 415-foot, two-run shot for a 4-0 Rays lead…2B Brandon Lowe (1-for-3, RBI, BB) added an RBI-single in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 5-0… the Yankees pushed across a pair of runs in the ninth inning and brought the tying run to the plate, but RHP Pete Fairbanks (0.1IP, SO) recorded the final out for his 14th save.
RHP Zach Eflin (6.0IP, 3H, 0R, 5SO) improved to 12-6, becoming the first AL pitcher to reach the 12-win mark…RHP Shawn Armstrong (2.0IP, SO) worked a pair of
clean frames to extend his scoreless inning streak to 14.0, tied for the third-longest active run in the majors.
The Rays drew a season-high-tying seven walks in the win (5x, last: 5/9 at BAL).
Since MIA Sandy Alcantara’s complete game against the Rays on 7/26, opposing starters have pitched to a 6.12 ERA (25.0IP, 17ER) while allowing eight homers (2.88 HR/9.0IP) against Tampa Bay over the club’s last five games.
ROAD TRIPPIN’ — The Rays continue a nine-game, 10-day road trip through Houston, New York and Detroit with tonight’s series finale at Yankee Stadium…they are 4-1 since the trip began on 7/28 at Houston, their first time recording four wins in any five-game span on the road since 4/27-5/8 (also 4-1)…with yesterday’s win Tampa Bay moved to 2-2-1 over its last five series, all of which came against opponents that are currently above the .500 mark (TEX, BAL, MIA, HOU, NYY), going 6-8 overall in that span (since 7/17).
The Rays have won back-to-back series for the first time since 6/6-11 vs. Minnesota and Texas…tonight, they will be seeking their eighth series sweep of the season; their seven sweeps are tied with Cincinnati, Los Angeles-NL and Texas for second most in the majors behind Atlanta (10).
The Rays have won each of their last six games when scoring first dating back to 7/21 vs. Baltimore, their longest streak since 6/3-11 (7G)…on the season, they are 53-16 when tallying the game’s opening run.
Under Kevin Cash (since 2015), the Rays have been at their best during the month of August, going 136-85 (.615), the highest August winning percentage in the AL over that span, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (.647) and St. Louis (.633) in all of MLB.
BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE — Tyler Glasnow was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for July after going 3-2 with a 2.11 ERA (38.1IP, 9ER), 0.89 WHIP and 51 strikeouts against eight walks…he led the AL in strikeouts during July and ranked among league leaders (min. 30.0IP) in ERA (3rd), WHIP (3rd) and opponent batting average (4th, .203).
This marks the second Pitcher of the Month award of Glasnow’s career; he also was tabbed for the honor in April 2019…he is the first Rays pitcher to win the award since Drew Rasmussen in August 2022…he joins Blake Snell (Aug./Sept. 2018) as the only Rays to win multiple Pitcher of the Month awards.
BACK ON TRACK — The Rays have won three straight games for the first time since 7/9-15…they have won four of their last five games overall, scoring 4+ runs in five straight games for the first time since 6/20-24 (5G).
Following a 3-for-33 (.091) skid from 7/16-26, Wander Franco has a five-game hitting streak, batting .368 (7-for-19) with one triple, two homers, 2 RBI, four walks and one strikeout in that span.
Yandy Díaz is slashing .349/.425/.556 (22-for-63) with four doubles, three homers and 13 RBI over his last 17 games dating back to 7/6…it marks the third-best batting average in the AL over that span (min. 50AB), trailing BOS Triston Casas (.393) and MIN Edouard Julien (.367)…Díaz is 5-for-11 (.455) over his last three games.
Harold Ramírez has a four-game hitting streak, batting .357 (5-for-14)…prior to the streak, he had gone 6-for-33 (.182) in 13 games from 7/1-25.
POWER SURGE — Tampa Bay has launched 11 home runs over its last five games, the most in the AL over that timeframe (since 7/28), ahead of Toronto (9HR)…it marks the Rays most home runs in any five-game span since 4/30-5/5 (12HR)…Isaac Paredes (3HR) and Brandon Lowe (3HR) have combined for six of the 11 blasts.
From 6/13-7/27, the Rays recorded 37 homers, tied with Cleveland for third fewest in the AL over that span, ahead of only Oakland (31HR) and Kansas City (29HR)…from the beginning of the season through 6/12, their 113 homers were tied with Los Angeles-NL for the most in the majors.
On the season, Tampa Bay’s 161 long balls are fourth most in baseball, trailing only Los Angeles-AL (166HR) in the AL…it marks the most home runs through 110 games in club history, outpacing the 2017 Rays (159HR).
ADAPT AND OVERCOME — Over his last seven games, Brandon Lowe is 11-for-26 (.423) with four homers and 10 RBI…he is slashing .288/.373/.593 (17-for-59) with three doubles, five homers and 12 RBI in 17 games since returning from the All-Star break.
Since the All-Star break, Lowe is batting .326 (14-for-43) and slugging .605 against offspeed/breaking pitches…prior to the break, he had a .162 (16-for-99) AVG and .364 SLG against those offerings…this includes a 4-for-10 (.400) mark with two homers against sliders since the All-Star break, a pitch he batted .156 (5-for-32)
against in the first half.
He has registered a 29.3 pct. whiff rate on breaking/offspeed pitches since the AllStar break after posting a 39.9 pct. mark in the first half.
Only 34.7 pct. of the pitches Lowe has seen since the All-Star break have been fastballs, the lowest mark among major league hitters (min. 200 pitches faced).
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND — The Rays and Yankees meet for the 10th contest in a 13-game season series tonight in the Bronx…following tonight’s game, the clubs will meet for the final time this season from 8/25-27 at Tropicana Field…Tampa Bay holds a 6-3 edge in the season series, outscoring New York, 54-41 (+13), and can clinch their third season series victory in the last four seasons with a win tonight…New York won five straight season sets from 2015-19, but Tampa Bay has taken two of the last three since 2020.
The Rays are seeking their first sweep of the Yankees since 4/16-18, 2021 in the Bronx…it would mark the first time New York has been swept at home since a four-game series from 9/6-9, 2021 vs. Toronto.
Tampa Bay is 33-24 (.579) against New York since the beginning of 2020, the best record vs. the Yankees by any AL team in that span, ahead of Houston (7-6, .538)… they are 19-12 (.613) at Yankee Stadium in that timeframe; excluding the Yankees, Toronto (15-11, .577) is the only other AL club above .500 in this venue since 2020
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP SHANE McCLANAHAN (11-1, 3.00)
SUGAR SHANE — The southpaw makes his 21st start of the season and his 12th on the road…despite his time on the IL, he still ranks among MLB leaders in wins (T2nd, 11), ERA (6th, 3.00) and opponent batting average (10th, .219)…after going 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA (93.0IP, 23ER) across his first 16 starts of the year, has pitched to a 7.00 ERA (18.0IP, 14ER) over his last four starts without factoring into a single decision…the Rays went 2-2 in those games.
LAST TIME OUT — Did not factor into the decision on 7/28 at Houston, working 5.0 innings and allowing three runs on a season-high eight hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Marked only the fifth time he has allowed 8+ hits in his career and the first instance since allowing eight hits on 9/2/21 vs. Boston.
Has not walked a batter in two of his last three starts after recording at least one walk in 16 of his first 17 starts.
CONCRETE JUNGLE — Did not factor into the decision at New York-AL on 5/13 after allowing four runs on five hits and four walks across 4.0 innings…is 1-3 with a 3.93 ERA (34.1IP, 15ER) in seven career starts opposite the Yankees, including 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA (16.1IP, 10ER) in four starts at Yankee Stadium.
Last earned a victory against New York-AL on 5/29/22 at Tropicana Field after tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
In seven starts against AL East opponents this season, McClanahan is 5-0 with a 3.08 ERA (38.0IP, 13ER)…in 31 career outings against the division, he is 16-6 with a 2.82 ERA (169.1IP, 53ER).
MERRY-GO-ROUND — McClanahan has issued at least one walk in 17 of his 20 starts this season, including multiple walks in four of his last six starts dating back to 6/16.
He has walked 3+ batters in seven starts this year, but has managed to go 4-0 with a 4.41 ERA (34.2IP, 17ER) in those outings…he allowed 3+ walks in only five of his 28 starts last season.
LIMIT THE DAMAGE — Among pitchers who have thrown at least 110.0 innings this season, McClanahan’s 90 hits allowed are the fourth fewest in MLB, trailing only LAA Shohei Ohtani (79H/120.2IP), BAL Tyler Wells (83H/113.0IP) and SD Blake Snell (85H/119.0IP).
Since making his first major league start on 4/29/21, his 326 hits allowed, spanning 400.2 innings, are fourth fewest among all pitchers (min. 375.0IP), trailing only Ohtani (295H/403.1IP), NYM Max Scherzer (303H/402.1IP) and TOR Alek Manoah (304H, 385.0IP).
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK — McClanahan’s 6.73 runs of support per 9.0 IP rank third in the majors, trailing TEX Martín Pérez (7.64) and ATL Charlie Morton (6.79).
In his career, the Rays are 34-4 when providing him with 3+ runs of support, compared to 11-24 with two or fewer runs of support.
BUCKLE DOWN—With runners in scoring position and two outs,
McClanahan is holding the opposition to a .139 (5-for-36) average, tied for
the sixth-lowest mark among AL pitchers (min. 30AB).
DIVING DEEPER — McClanahan’s 33.4 pct. whiff rate ranks third in the majors behind ATL Spencer Strider (40.4) and SD Blake Snell (36.1%)…he has registered a 54.2 pct. whiff rate on his changeup, fourth highest on any pitch in MLB (min. 150 pitches swung at), trailing only NYM Kodai Senga’s forkball (58.6%), Snell’s curveball (57.5%) and Strider’s slider (57.3%). Ê Opposing hitters have offered at 32.6 pct. of his pitches outside of the strike zone, the eighth-highest chase rate in the AL…opponents have missed on 24.0 pct. of their cuts on his pitches in the strike zone, tied for the third-highest in-zone whiff rate in majors behind Strider (28.9%) and LAD Lance Lynn (25.0%).
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their seven-game homestand tonight with the final game of a three-game set vs. Tampa Bay (0-2 thus far)…will also play a four-game
series vs. Houston from Thurs.-Sun.
Have lost three straight games after winning five of their previous seven games.
Are in a stretch of playing six straight games against the AL East (7/28-8/2)…are 1-4 thus far.
Are also in a stretch of playing 12-of-15 games at home (7/21-8/6)…overall, are 5-5 during that stretch and 4-3 at home during that span.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Rays, 5-2, on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium…LHP Carlos Rodón (4.0IP, 4H, 4ER, 4BB, 5K, 2HR, 1WP) took the loss after allowing 4ER in 4.0IP…2B Gleyber Torres (1-for-4, 1R, 1 double, 1RBI) drove in the Yankees’ first run with an RBI double in the ninth inning…3B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-4, 1RBI) drove in the Yankees’ second run with an RBI single in the ninth inning… PH Harrison Bader (1-for-1, 1R, 1 double) hit a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning…RHP Ian Hamilton (2.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 2BB, 1K) allowed 1ER over 2.0IP…RHP Albert Abreu (1.0IP, 1BB) tossed a scoreless seventh inning…LHP Nick Ramirez (2.0IP) tossed 2.0 perfect innings.
PEN PALS: Yankees relievers have allowed just 1R/ER in their last 18.2 innings and just 2R/ER in their last 23.1 innings over their last six games (7H, 7BB, 23K, 1HR, 1HP).
Have posted a Major League-best 3.09 ERA (399.2IP, 137ER) this season…are the only Major League bullpen to own an ERA under 3.50…also own a Major League-best .216 opponents’ BA, rank second in HR/9.0IP (0.83) and rank fourth in WHIP (1.21).
DARTH BADER: OF Harrison Bader hit a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning on Tuesday…is batting .370 (10-for27) with 6R, 2 doubles, 2RBI, 1SF and 2SB in his last tine games (since 7/22).
Has reached base in 10 of 12 career games vs. the Rays.
Is batting .364/.408/.841 (16-for-44) with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 4HR, 3BB and 1HP vs. left-handed pitchers this season.
HAWAIIAN PUNCH: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa is batting .309 (29-for-94) with 16R, 4 doubles, 2HR, 14RBI, 14BB, 1HP, 3SF and 4SB in his last 37 games (since 6/4).
Over his last five games (since 7/25), has reached base in 9-of-18 plate appearances (5H, 3BB, 1HP, .500 OBP)…has hit safely in each of those games.
In his last 25 games (since 6/22), has hit .318/.422/.455 (21-for-66) with 11R, 3 doubles, 2HR, 13RBI, 13BB, 1HP, 3SF and 1SB in that span.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo is batting .333/.402/.423 (26-for-78) with 4 doubles, 1HR, 8BB and 1HP vs. left-handed pitchers this season…among Major League left-handed batters, ranks third in OBP and fifth in BA vs. lefthanded pitchers…among all American League hitters, is sixth in OBP and tied for seventh in BA vs. left-handed pitchers.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu drove in the Yankees’ second run on Tuesday with an RBI single in the ninth inning…is batting .286 (18-for-63) with 6R, 4 doubles, 1HR, 2RBI and 10BB in his last 18 games (since 7/6), hitting safely in 14 of those games.
Has reached base in 18 of his last 20 games (since 7/4) and 25 of his last 29 games (since 6/23).
In nine games vs. the Rays this year, has hit .294 (10-for34) with 4R, 1 double, 2RBI and 4BB.
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres drove in the Yankees’ first run on Tuesday with an RBI double in the ninth inning…has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games (since 7/6), hitting .293 (24-for-82) with 11R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3HR, 9RBI, 3BB, 3SF and 1SB in that span…has also hit safely in 22 of his last 27 games (since 6/29) and 24 of his last 30 games (since 6/25).
Has reached base in 26 of his last 31 games (since 6/24) and 39 of his last 45 games (since 6/8-G1).
Has hit .400/.471/.733 (6-for-15) with 2 doubles, 1HR and 2BB in his career vs. Tampa Bay’s LHP Shane McClanahan.
TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT: The Yankees are 8-4 in their last 12 games vs. left-handed starters (since 5/8/23).
COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 23rd start of the season tonight…is 9-2 with a 2.64 ERA (136.1IP, 40ER) and 149K in 22 starts this season…owns the lowest ERA in the American League and the second-lowest in the Majors, trailing only San Diego’s Blake Snell (2.50).
Also ranks second in the Majors in winning percentage (.818, second in AL), fifth in innings pitched (136.1, first in AL), sixth in WHIP (1.05, sixth in AL), tied for seventh in strikeouts (149, tied for fourth in AL) and ranks ninth in opponents’ BA (.214, sixth in AL)…also ranks seventh in the AL in HR/9.0IP (0.86) and tied for seventh in wins (nine).
Tonight will mark the ninth time this season Cole will start after a team loss…the Yankees are 8-0 in those games with Cole going 5-0 with a 2.13 ERA (50.2IP, 12ER) in those starts.
According to Elias, his 2.64 ERA is the third-lowest by a Yankees starter through his first 22 starts of a season in the last 26 years (since 1998) and the fifth-lowest in the last 39 years (since 1985), trailing only Hiroki Kuroda’s 2.38 ERA in his first 22GS in 2013, David Cone’s 2.49 ERA in his first 22GS in 1997, CC Sabathia’s 2.62 ERA in his first 22GS in 2011 and Jimmy Key’s 2.62 ERA in his first 22GS in 1993.
Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 19-of-22 starts, tied for the most such starts in the Majors (also Minnesota’s Sonny Gray and San Diego’s Blake Snell)…has allowed 2R-orfewer in 17 of his 22 starts this year, tied with Snell for the most in the Majors…has allowed 1R-or-fewer in 10 of his 22 starts, tied for the second-most starts in the Majors, trailing only Snell (12).
Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 17 of his 22 starts, the most such starts in the AL and tied for the third-most in the Majors, trailing only Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (18) and San Francisco’s Logan Webb (18).
The Yankees are 15-7 in his starts this season…the Yankees’ 15 wins are tied for the fourth-most by a club in a pitcher’s starts this season, trailing only Atlanta’s 18 wins in Spencer Strider’s starts (club is 18-4 in 22GS), Baltimore’s 16 wins in Dean Kremer’s starts (club is 16-6 in 22GS) and Philadelphia’s 16 wins in Taijuan Walker’s starts (club is 16-6 in 22GS).
Has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 65 starts as a Yankee (since 2020), tied for the most such starts in the AL and tied for the second-most such starts in the Majors in that stretch, trailing only Los Angeles-NL’s Julio Urias (66).
JAKE RAKES: INF/OF Jake Bauers doubled in the sixth inning on Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay…nine of his last 12 hits (since 6/21), 12 of his last 16 hits (since 6/16) and 21 of his last 29 hits (since 5/23) have gone for extra bases (14 doubles, 7HR).
Over his last 34 games (since 5/29), has posted a .574 slugging percentage…ranks ninth in the AL in SLG in that span (min. 100 PA).
Has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games (since 6/25), batting .275/.341/.625 (11-for-40) with 6R, 5 doubles, 3HR, 6RBI, 4BB and a .966 OPS over that span. ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge has reached base safely in 46 of his 53 games this season, batting .296/.417/.672 (55- for-186) with 44R, 10 doubles, 20HR, 42RBI, 41BB, 3SB
and a 1.089 OPS.
Has reached base multiple times in 27 of his 53 games this season…has reached base multiple times in four of his last five games (since 6/3), seven of his last 10 games (since 5/28), 13 of his last 19 games (since 5/17) and 17 of his last 29 games (since 4/26).
Has reached base safely in 23 of his last 24 games (since 5/12)…is batting .337/.491/.892 (28-for-83) with 23R, 4 doubles, 14HR, 26RBI, 25BB and 1SB in that span.
Since returning from the injured list on Friday, has reached base in 10-of-17 plate appearances (4H, 6BB, .588 OBP).
In his last 16 games vs. the Rays (since 6/22/22), has hit .317/.400/.650 (19-for-60) with 12R, 2 doubles, 6HR, 13RBI, 9BB and 1SF.
Is batting .356/.453/.844 (16-for-45) with 17R, 1 double, 7HR, 9RBI and 8BB in the first inning this year…his .356 BA in the first inning is the third-highest in the AL and sixth-highest in the Majors (min. 50PA).
His 10 game-winning RBI are tied for the fifth-most in the AL (tied for seventh in the Majors) and his 20HR are tied for the seventh-most in the AL.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP GERRIT COLE (9-2, 2.64 ERA)
RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 23rd start of the season in tonight’s series finale vs. Tampa Bay…the 32-year-old will start on regular four days’ rest…last started on Friday at Baltimore and tossed 7.0 scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 1-0 loss (ND, 3H, 0BB, 5K)…is 9-2 with a 2.64 ERA (136.1IP, 40ER) and 149K in 22 starts this season…owns the lowest ERA in the American League and the second-lowest in the Majors, trailing only San Diego’s Blake Snell (2.50)…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 17 of his first 22 starts this season, tied for the most such starts in the Majors…started for the American League in the 93rd Midsummer Classic on 7/11 and retired all 3BF, becoming the 12th pitcher in franchise history (20th time) to start an All-Star Game…was named to his sixth career All-Star team via the player ballot…reached 10 years of Major League service on 5/29…recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on 5/23 vs. Baltimore (Jorge Mateo swinging), becoming the third-fastest pitcher in Major League history to reach the milestone (in terms of games and innings pitched)…the Yankees are 15-7 in his 22 starts this season…his Major League-leading 257K last season were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a single season in franchise history, surpassing Ron Guidry’s previous record of 248K in 1978…the six-time All-Star (2015, ’18-19, ’21-23) has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting five times (second in 2021, fourth in 2020, second in 2019, fifth in 2018, fourth in 2015)…his career 10.47 K/9.0IP ratio (2,079K/1,786.1IP) is the eighth-highest in Major League history (min. 1,000.0IP)…in 97 starts with the Yankees, is 45-21 with a 3.14 ERA (591.1IP, 206ER) and 743K…since 2018, leads the Majors in wins (80) and strikeouts (1,345), ranks second in K/9.0IP (12.06) and innings pitched (1,004.0), third in opponents’ BA (.204), tied for third in WAR among pitchers (26.4 – FanGraphs), fourth in WHIP (1.00), fifth in K/BB (5.25), and sixth in ERA (2.95)…was originally selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft but did not sign and went on to play at UCLA for three seasons (2009-11)…was the first overall pick of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the 15th pitcher (and 11th right-hander) to be chosen first…is the fifth player selected first overall to play for the Yankees, joining Alex Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Foli and Ron Blomberg…signed a nine-year contract extending through the 2028 season with a player opt-out following the 2024 season on 12/18/19.
LAST START: Allowed just three baserunners over 7.0 scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 1-0 loss on Friday at Baltimore (ND, 3H, 0BB, 5K)…tossed a season-high 110 pitches, his most in a game since Game 2 of a doubleheader on 9/7/22 vs. Minnesota (118)…marked his fifth scoreless start of the season.
2023: Is 9-2 with a 2.64 ERA (136.1IP, 40ER) and 149K in 22GS this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 17 of his 22GS this year, tied with San Diego’s Blake Snell for the most in the Majors.
Ranks second in the Majors in ERA (2.64, first in AL) and winning percentage (.818, second in AL), fifth in innings pitched (136.1, first in AL), sixth in WHIP (1.05, sixth in AL), tied for seventh in strikeouts (149, tied for fourth in AL) and ranks ninth in opponents’ BA (.214, sixth in AL)…also ranks seventh in the AL in HR/9.0IP (0.86) and tied for seventh in wins (nine).
According to Elias, his 2.64 ERA is the third-lowest by a Yankees starter through his first 22 starts of a season in the last 26 years (since 1998) and the fifth-lowest in the last 39 years (since 1985), trailing only Hiroki Kuroda’s 2.38 ERA in his first 22GS in 2013, David Cone’s 2.49 ERA in his first 22GS in 1997, CC Sabathia’s 2.62 ERA in his first 22GS in 2011 and Jimmy Key’s 2.62 ERA in his first 22GS in 1993.
Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 19-of-22 starts, tied for the most such starts in the Majors (also Minnesota’s Sonny Gray and San Diego’s Blake Snell)…has allowed 1R-or-fewer in 10 of his 22 starts, tied for the second-most such starts in the Majors, trailing only Snell (12)…has recorded five scoreless starts.
Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in each of his last 10 starts (since 6/3), posting a 2.30 ERA (62.2IP, 16ER) and 70K in that span.
Has started after a Yankees’ loss eight times this season…the Yankees are 8-0 in those games with Cole going 5-0 with a 2.13 ERA (50.2IP, 12ER) in those starts.
17 of his 42R allowed have come in three starts: 6R on 5/7 at Tampa Bay, 5R on 5/23 vs. Baltimore and 6R on 5/28 vs. San Diego.
Has allowed just 5HR in his last 10 starts (since 6/3) after allowing 8HR in his previous five starts (5/7-28)…10 of his 13HR allowed this season have been solo home runs…his seven-start homerless streak to start the season (3/30-5/2) was the third-longest homerless streak of his career (10G from 5/26-8/13/16 and 8G from 7/9-8/20/18).
Has received 3R-or-fewer of support in 16 of his 22 starts…has received 2R-or-fewer of support in 11 of his starts.
Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 17 of his 22 starts, the most such starts in the AL and tied for the third-most in the Majors, trailing only Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (18) and San Francisco’s Logan Webb (18).
WINNING WAYS: His 9-2 record (.818) is the second-best in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (11-1, .917)…his nine wins are tied for the seventh-most in the AL…has left just three games this season with the Yankees trailing. The Yankees are 15-7 in his starts this season…the Yankees’ 15 wins are tied for the fourth-most by a club in a pitcher’s starts this season, trailing only Atlanta’s 18 wins in Spencer Strider’s starts (club is 18-4 in 22GS), Baltimore’s 16 wins in Dean Kremer’s starts (club is 16-6 in 22GS) and Philadelphia’s 16 wins in Taijuan Walker’s starts (club is 16-6 in 22GS).
Went undefeated in his first 13 starts of the season…his 13-start season-opening undefeated streak was tied for the third-longest by a Yankees starter in franchise history.
STRIKEOUT MACHINE: Recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on 5/23 vs. Baltimore (Jorge Mateo swinging)…became the third-fastest pitcher (in terms of games) in Major League history to reach the milestone (278th career game), trailing only Randy Johnson (262G) and Clayton Kershaw (277G)…recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in 1,714.2IP, becoming the third-fastest pitcher in Major League history to record 2,000 career strikeouts in terms of innings pitched, trailing only Chris Sale (1,626.0IP) and Pedro Martínez (1,711.1IP).
Has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 46 games since the start of 2019, marking the most in the Majors over the span (next: Max Scherzer-29)…his 54 games with at least 10K since the beginning of 2018 are also the most in the Majors over that stretch (next: Max Scherzer-47).
Has recorded at least 8K in 10 of his 22 starts this season…has recorded at least 10K in four games this season, including two of his last three starts.
IN PINSTRIPES: In 97 starts with the Yankees (since 2020), is 45-21 with a 3.14 ERA (591.1IP, 206ER) and 743K…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 76-of-97 starts…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 65 starts as a Yankee, tied for the most such starts in the AL and tied for the second-most such starts in the Majors in that stretch…has recorded 19 scoreless starts as a Yankee, the most scoreless starts by any AL pitcher and tied for the seventh-most by any pitcher in the Majors in that span.
His 45 wins since 2020 are the most in the AL and the second-most in the Majors over that stretch, trailing only Julio Urías (47-16)…his 743K since 2020 are the most in the Majors and his 11.31 K/9.0IP ratio in that span is the second-best in the AL and the third-best in the Majors (min. 400.0IP)…his 591.1IP since 2020 are the most in the AL and third-most by a Major League pitcher in that span…his 3.14 ERA since 2020 is the fifth-lowest in the AL (min. 400.0IP).
Has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting in two of his first three seasons in pinstripes (second in 2021, fourth in 2020).
His 25 double-digit strikeout games with the Yankees are the most in franchise history…surpassed Ron Guidry’s record (23) on 7/16 at Colorado…Cole has 25 such games in 97 starts with the Yankees while Guidry recorded 23 double-digit strikeout games in 368 games/323 starts with the Yankees.
VS. TAMPA BAY: Is 2-7 with a 3.79 ERA (102.0IP, 43ER) and 148K in 17 career regular season starts vs. the Rays…has received 2R-or-fewer of support in 13 of his 17 starts against Tampa Bay…as a Yankee, is 2-5 with a 3.89 ERA (76.1IP, 33ER) and 111K in 13 regular season starts vs. the Rays.
Has recorded double-digit strikeouts in nine of his last 15 starts vs. Tampa Bay (since 3/29/19)…his career 13.06 K/9.0IP ratio vs. the Rays is the second-highest by any pitcher vs. Tampa Bay all-time (min. 50.0IP), trailing only Matt Barnes (14.03).
Is 1-4 with a 3.60 ERA (40.0IP, 16ER) in seven career starts vs. the Rays at Yankee Stadium…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in five of those seven starts.
Will mark his third start vs. the Rays this season…recorded no-decisions on 5/7 at Tropicana Field (5.0IP, 8H, 6R/5ER, 2BB, 6K, 2HR) and 5/12 at Yankee Stadium (5.0IP, 5H, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, 2HR).
STAR POWER: Started for the American League in the 93rd Midsummer Classic on 7/11 and retired all 3BF…was the 12th pitcher in franchise history (20th time) to start an All-Star Game…was named to his sixth career All-Star team via the player ballot, his fifth as a member of the American League and third with the Yankees (also 2015 with Pittsburgh, 2018-19 with Houston and 2021-22 with the Yankees).
HOME SWEET HOME: Is 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA (80.2IP, 26ER) and 92K in 13 home starts this season…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in nine of his 13 home starts this year…as a Yankee, has gone 21-11 with a 2.95 ERA (301.2IP, 99ER) and 382K in 49 starts at Yankee Stadium…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 34 of those 49 starts…his 2.95 ERA at home since 2020 is the fourth-lowest in the AL in that stretch (min. 200.0IP).
