Gerrit Cole’s return from Tommy John surgery has not been completely smooth, but the Yankees ace appears to be finding his stride at the right time.
Cole endured a rocky June after opening his comeback with several encouraging starts, finishing the month with a 6.12 ERA, but those concerns quieted after his July turnaround.
The right-hander posted a 2.97 ERA with 39 strikeouts and only four walks across 30 ⅓ innings in July, including at least seven strikeouts in four of his five starts during the month, highlighted by an 11-strikeout performance against the Pirates on July 22.
Cole closed the month by throwing six scoreless innings against the White Sox, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
That willingness to let Cole work through trouble is notable for bettors.
The Yankees understandably handled Cole carefully when he initially returned, limiting him to 72 pitches in his season debut. They have steadily loosened the restrictions since then, with Cole throwing 99 pitches in his latest appearance and at least 93 in four consecutive starts.
That longer leash gives Cole considerably more opportunity to clear his strikeout total Sunday against the Cubs.
Chicago presents a difficult matchup from a run-prevention standpoint, having entered Saturday ranking second in the majors in runs per game and third in wRC+.
They aren’t, however, as strong when it comes to punchouts, with a strikeout rate that sits around the middle of the league.
Cole has recorded 33 strikeouts across his past four starts, an average of more than eight per appearance.
Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting
There is always some risk against an offense this productive, especially at hitter-friendly Wrigley Field, but Cole appears to be stretched out and his strikeout stuff has looked increasingly like its pre-surgery form.
The play: Gerrit Cole over 6.5 strikeouts (+100, bet365 Sportsbook)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
