Gerrit Cole on Being Yankees' Ace: 'Hardest Job in' MLB, AL East 'a F--king Gauntlet'

Gerrit Cole said being an ace on the New York Yankees' pitching staff is MLB's toughest role as he prepares to start Game 1 of the team's American League Division Series matchup with the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.

"I think it's the hardest job in the league," Cole told Lindsey Adler of The Athletic. "I don't think there's a harder place to be the ace. I think it's the most hunted job in the league, and I think it comes with the most weight. The division is a f--king [gauntlet]. Above all else, I'm paid to keep us in the game as long as I can and take the ball every single f--king time that I can and charge straight into the fire."

The 32-year-old California native accepted the pressure that comes with being the Yanks' No. 1 starter when he signed a nine-year, $324 million contract ahead of the 2020 season.

He's mostly lived up to expectations, compiling a 3.28 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 594 strikeouts in 455 innings across 75 starts for New York.

Cole told Adler he could have signed anywhere, joking he could have been closer to home "grilling burgers and drinking beer and gambling on football games" rather than preparing for the playoffs if he joined the Los Angeles Angels, but he was drawn to the pressure of being a Yankee.

"Yeah, but like once you play here, it's like, who gives a shit about the rest of the league?" the five-time All-Star said. "The level of commitment to winning here is unchallenged across the landscape of the league."

He added: "I like a fight, I guess. But just because I like it tough doesn't mean that it's not hard."

Every year is championship-or-bust for the Yankees, whose 27 World Series titles are 16 more than any other MLB franchise.

That level of expectation hasn't changed, even in an era where teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are posting the league's highest payrolls.

The Yankees had a 99-63 record to win the AL East this year, but that'll be a mere footnote if they don't parlay it into postseason success.

"Every game that you pitch during the regular season is an opportunity to fine-tune your process and the way you go about your business so that it becomes automatic in situations like this," Cole told Adler.

Game 1 between the Yanks and Guardians is set for a 7:37 p.m. ET first pitch Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Television coverage will be on TBS.