Yankees' rotation strategy backfires with Gerrit Cole's rough start vs. Tigers

After missing the entire 2025 season following Tommy John surgery, a cautious approach with Cole is wise, particularly for an organization with World Series aspirations. The Yankees need Cole healthy and sharp in October, but just as importantly they need him in a consistent rhythm. And it isn't as though the extended rest is leading to better results.

Cole's best start of the year — his second — came on a season-low four days rest when he had season highs in innings pitched (6.2) and strikeouts (10).

Despite the extra day off, Cole wasn't any sharper, allowing multiple runs on two-strike counts. In the bottom of the third, he gave up a base hit to designated hitter Colt Keith on an 0-2 four-seam fastball left over the middle of the plate, scoring a run to put the Tigers up, 3-1.

An inning later, rookie third baseman Kevin McGonigle, down 0-2 in the count, made it 4-1 with a double off a four-seamer high in the zone, followed by left fielder Riley Greene's fifth-inning solo home run off an 84.9 mph changeup in a 2-2 count.

For a manager with as much regular-season success as Boone — he's 743-527 (.585) with seven playoff appearances in nine seasons — his decision-making at times has come into question, including last year's wild-card when pulling an effective starter, Max Fried, in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. 

While not as consequential, Boone's recent tinkering of the starting rotation is another choice that didn't work. He's going to have to start hitting on some of those managerial decisions for the Yankees (46-31) to win the World Series later this year. Following Monday, he still has plenty of room to improve.