Gerrit Cole is “doing pretty well,” after leaving Tuesday’s loss with a tight left hamstring in the fourth inning, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The right-hander underwent some testing Wednesday, and Boone said an MRI exam was still not scheduled, but hasn’t been ruled out.
Cole was able to do some work on a treadmill and Boone said the Yankees’ ace was “encouraged” by how he felt.
Still, it will be another day or two before the Yankees know the severity of the injury, and whether Cole could miss his next start.
“I think the next 24-48 hours will determine where we move and how he responds,’’ Boone said.
After Tuesday’s game, Cole said it was “tough to say right now” whether he’d be able to make his next start.
“I’m obviously disappointed about the outcome,’’ Cole said. “I just want to reserve judgment and see how this thing reacts the next 24-36 hours. I guess maybe for my own mentality I just want to make sure I’m good or if I need a few extra days. … I’m gonna definitely be as smart about it as I can, and trust my instincts. Hopefully I’ll be able to make the next one. We’ll see how it shakes out.”
Many Yankees watched Derek Jeter’s Hall of Fame induction speech on the outfield scoreboard screen before batting practice at Yankee Stadium prior to their game against the Blue Jays.
Boone watched the speech, as well, and said he got to “witness another Hall of Famer I got to play alongside.”
Boone said Domingo German and Luis Severino made it through their bullpen sessions on Tuesday without any issues. Each of the right-handers is expected to throw another bullpen session, which Boone called “an encouraging step.”
German, according to Boone, is further along than Severino and is closer to facing hitters.
Both pitchers are battling back from shoulder injuries. With less than four weeks to go in the regular season, time is running out for either to be able to make a contribution.
Another right-hander, Michael King, threw three innings in relief at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Boone said he could join the Yankees’ pitching staff soon.
King has been out since July with a right middle finger contusion.
Gio Urshela didn’t start Wednesday, and Boone said it was a day off for the third baseman.
Urshela is 1-for-8 with a pair of strikeouts in three games since returning from a left hand injury. Urshela also made two errors in Monday’s loss, but had no issues Tuesday.
Joey Gallo was back in the lineup Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday’s loss. Boone decided to give Gallo the day off Tuesday with Toronto lefty Steven Matz on the mound, but Gallo has had a hard time hitting anyone since he joined the Yankees in July.