New York Yankees (31-23) vs San Diego Padres (24-28)
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 1:35 pm
On Tuesday night, Gerrit Cole made some history with a personal accolade, but the rest of his outing was hardly enjoyable at least until his teammates rallied late.
After becoming the third fastest to reach 2,000 career strikeouts, Cole hopes to halt a six-game winless skid and revert to his dominance from the first month of the season Sunday afternoon when the New York Yankees host the San Diego Padres.
The Yankees are going for the series win after DJ LeMahieu hit a tying homer in the seventh and Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit the game-ending single in the 10th of Saturday's 3-2 win.
Cole (5-0, 2.53 ERA) is on a run of six straight no-decisions, and since winning five of his first six outings, he has a 4.67 ERA and allowed six homers in 27 innings. He reached 2,000 strikeouts Tuesday on a whiff of Jorge Mateo but also allowed five runs on six hits, including solo homers to Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson in five-plus innings.
The Padres will counter Cole by starting Yu Darvish (3-3, 3.67), who is two shy of 100 career wins.
Darvish last pitched Tuesday in Washington when he allowed three runs on six hits in six innings to earn the win.
The veteran right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees, including an 0-1 mark and a 2.70 ERA in three starts at Yankee Stadium. Darvish is facing New York for the first time since June 23, 2017, when he fanned 10 and allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings of a no-decision for the Texas Rangers.
Darvish also is opposing Cole for the second time. The first instance was Sept. 9, 2013, in Texas. Cole, in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, earned the win as he allowed three hits and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings. Pitching for the Rangers, Darvish gave up a run on four hits in seven innings of a 1-0 Pittsburgh win.
Dana’s Pick San Diego Padres
AUTHOR: Dana Lane
