WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
Gerrit Cole key playmaker in game against Yankees to ankle injury, questionable to…
Despite the loss, Gerrit Cole delivered another solid outing, giving up only two unearned runs across six innings while striking out seven batters. He threw 99 pitches, with 66 strikes, and lowered his ERA to 3.36 on the season. Cole’s recent string of strong performances is encouraging for the Yankees as they look to solidify their playoff rotation.
The Yankees’ bullpen continued to impress, with Jake Cousins and Clay Holmes combining for two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. The bullpen has been a key strength for the team throughout the season, and Sunday’s performance was no exception.
Offensively, the Yankees struggled once again, managing just six hits and striking out nine times. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have both been in slumps recently, which has put added pressure on the rest of the lineup.
Judge, who has been a dominant force for much of the season, is hitting just .196/.362/.391 over the past 15 days, far below his usual standards. With the playoffs approaching, the Yankees are hoping their star slugger can regain his form soon.
Similarly, Juan Soto has been relatively quiet at the plate. Over the last 15 days, he’s hitting .260/.362/.440, slightly better than Judge but still below his peak performance. With both superstars struggling, the Yankees’ offense has lacked the punch it needs to dominate games.
