Gerrit Cole has no idea how he contracted COVID-19, and if he did, he would advocate for ways to be smarter as we live amidst the pandemic – but as he spoke to the media Sunday, before his first start back from the COVID IL, he noted that he’s actually probably been more careful this year, even after vaccinations, than in 2020.
“If I had an idea how I got it or what behavior I did to get it I would certainly advocate for an adjustment, bur I have no idea where I got it; outside of just going to dinner with my wife, and being able to spend time with my family, it’s probably a healthier lifestyle than what we were going through last year,” Cole said. “It’s not like we’re going to grimy bars and grinding until four in the morning. There is some awareness there, so I think we have to keep our fingers crossed and get ready for the stretch run.”
Cole was scratched from his scheduled start 13 days ago in Baltimore, which paved the way for Luis Gil’s MLB debut, and has spent the last two weeks on the COVID IL. However, he was able to play catch his wife Amy after a few days, and then began throwing with fellow COVID IL mate Jordan Montgomery last Sunday, so he has had a week’s worth of buildup heading into his first start back Monday night against the Angels.
No rehab assignment needed, as he joked his stuff was perfect in his most recent bullpen.
“I threw a no-hitter in the bullpen, I’m ready to go,” Cole smiled. “I’m feeling good, ready to go, very much looking forward to it.”
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But, don’t expect him to be the usual bulldog going deep into the game, as he noted he had “mild” symptoms of COVID, but those ran “the full gamut of everything minus the puking” and he lost a little bit of weight, so his stamina may not be all the way back.
“I don’t think we’ll push the limits by any means because recovery will be important, but I’m ready to pitch,” he said.
Montgomery is also set to return this week after being on the COVID IL since August 3 – likely pitching one of the games of Tuesday’s doubleheader – but the Yankees have kept rolling in the wake of all of their attrition, sporting a 19-9 second-half record entering Monday despite two outbreaks that have put 11 players on the COVID IL in the last five weeks.
“I think that we’ve done a really great job, we’re playing good baseball but we still feel like we could play just a little bit better,” Cole said. “If we can find a way to win that game in Iowa, get an extra series sweep here or there, those games go a long way in the standings and extending a roll. We’re putting ourselves in good positions to do that, and we’ve had a good next man up mentality…now we’re just looking for the final push to get white hot here.”
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