Yankees' Gerrit Cole Won't Pitch Out of Bullpen in World Series Game 4 vs. Dodgers

In a win-or-go-home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series on Tuesday, the New York Yankees won't bring one of their top starting pitchers out of the bullpen.

Per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Gerrit Cole is not available out of the bullpen in Game 4. The 2023 Cy Young Award winner started Game 1 of the series, pitching six innings and allowing one earned run in the 6-3 loss.

The Yankees will start Luis Gil on Tuesday and give Cole that chance to get fully rested in case New York can force a Game 5. Gil last pitched in the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Oct. 18, going four innings and allowing two earned runs with three strikeouts.

Boone said starting Cole on three days of rest is "not something I want to do with Gerrit this year, with what he's been through," per the New York Post's Mark Sanchez.

Cole missed the first few months of the season due to nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow, making his season debut in June. As Boone alluded to, the Yankees would prefer Cole get as much rest as possible given his injury history this season.

New York has erred on the side of caution with Cole this postseason, allowing him to throw between just 80 and 89 pitches in his four appearances. Boone pulled him after 88 pitches in Game 1 despite his outstanding outing. He threw 100 pitches or more four times during the regular season.

Should New York force a Game 5 with a win on Tuesday, it will need the best version of Cole it can get, even if that means not having him on the mound in any capacity in Game 4.