New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees' Gerrit Cole makes odd comparison when discussing ALCS loss to Astros

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/16/23

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole compared the team's 2022 ALCS loss to the Houston Astros to something very strange on Thursday.

When discussing the October sweep, the former Astros hurler said the Yankees got "waxed," and that whether it's in a salon or on the diamond, it "doesn't feel good."

Gerrit Cole on the Yankees' ALCS loss to the Astros:

"We got waxed. Any time you get waxed, it doesn't feel good - whether you're going to the salon or you're on a baseball field" pic.twitter.com/6DGy5ypWxH
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 16, 2023

Cole had another strong regular season in 2022, making his fifth career All-Star team and finishing 13-8 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a league-leading 257 strikeouts across 33 starts covering 200 2/3 innings pitched. He went 2-0 and allowed just three runs on 10 hits with two walks and 16 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings during the Yankees' ALDS victory over the Cleveland Guardians but lost his only start in the ALCS against Houston, surrendering five runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings.

Behind Cole in New York's projected starting rotation are newcomer Carlos Rodon, 2022 breakout All-Star Nestor Cortes, former two-time All-Star Luis Severino and likely 30-year-old Domingo German. Yankees fans learned Wednesday that starter Frankie Montas would soon be undergoing potentially season-ending shoulder surgery.

While the Astros lost reigning AL Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander to the New York Mets over the winter, they still boast one of the strongest starting fives in MLB with Lance McCullers Jr., All-Star Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier.

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