Cole aims to get it done in first Fenway start since 2022
Gerrit Cole makes his first start at Fenway Park since September 2022 on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of a series Boston leads 2-0. Coming off his roughest outing since Tommy John surgery, Cole aims to get it done against rookie Jake Bennett at 1:10 p.m.
Key Takeaways
- Cole has not pitched at Fenway since a six-inning no-decision on Sept. 13, 2022, and is 2-3 with a 5.52 ERA in eight career starts at Boston.
- His seventh start of 2026 follows a season-worst outing: five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Tigers on Monday.
- Boston can clinch the four-game series with a win behind rookie lefty Jake Bennett, who shut out Colorado over six innings earlier this week.
- The Yankees entered Saturday on pace for 96 victories but have dropped six of nine games since Aaron Judge fractured his rib.
- Manager Aaron Boone said Cole is pitching in line with his career standards through a 2-2 record and 3.62 ERA in six starts.
Why does Cole's Fenway return matter for the Yankees?
Cole recently likened his return from Tommy John surgery to a blank canvas, with each early outing adding another layer. Saturday marks a new milestone in that process, one that comes bathed in Fenway Park green and the heat of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.
The Yankees dropped the first two games of this four-game set at Fenway, including a 6-1 loss on Friday night. With New York trying to avoid three straight defeats for the second time in a week, Cole's performance carries extra weight. For more on high-profile sports moments, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
How has Cole performed since returning from surgery?
Through six starts this season, Cole is 2-2 with a 3.62 ERA. His best effort since returning came June 16, when he held the White Sox to two runs over six innings in a 12-2 Yankees win. That outing is the standard he wants to match after Monday's rough start in Detroit.
Over his last four appearances, Cole has posted a 5.95 ERA, per Pinstripe Alley. His most recent start against the Red Sox came Sept. 14, 2024, when he took a 7-1 loss at Yankee Stadium. Overall, he is 7-6 with a 5.23 ERA in 19 career starts against Boston.
Who is on the mound for the Red Sox?
Boston turns to rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (1-3, 3.71 ERA), who is making his first career start against the Yankees. Bennett has taken the rotation spot of Brayan Bello and enters Saturday off his best major-league outing: a six-inning shutout of Colorado with four hits allowed and nine strikeouts.
The Red Sox lineup features Masataka Yoshida at DH, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right, Willson Contreras at first, and Jarren Duran in left, according to The Boston Globe. Boston (34-46) has not won three straight home games since April but can clinch the series with one more victory.
What are the Yankees saying about Cole?
After his Detroit start, Cole acknowledged that opponents will apply pressure but stressed execution over effort. Yankees manager Aaron Boone backed his ace, telling reporters that Cole looks good and that his stuff is there. Boone added that Cole has been very good for the most part, with success coming down to execution time in and time out.
Full details on Cole's Fenway history and Saturday matchup are available from MLB.com. Saturday's game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET with the broadcast on ABC, ESPN, YES, and NESN.