Through all the hand-wringing over the lineup and injury status of Aaron Judge all season, the fact of the matter was that the New York Yankees possess an embarrassment of riches in their starting rotation. It ultimately might be what delivers them another World Series.
So the fact that the Yankees could turn to arguably their fourth-best starting pitcher for Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and only prompt minor debate among observers about the move, is another sign of how stacked the team is on the mound.
Gerrit Cole will start Game 1, the Yankees announced Friday morning, going with the safe choice to open the series. The Rays will counter with All-Star right-hander Drew Rasmussen.
Cole comes into Saturday's game with plenty of rest. He was scheduled to start Game 3 on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series, but that game turned out not to be necessary. The 36-year-old last pitched more than a week ago, giving up two runs in 5 2/3 innings against these same Rays on Sept. 23.
Carlos Rodon also has plenty of rest, however, and even ace Cam Schlittler should be relatively fresh, having not pitched since Game 1 against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Rodon, Schlittler and Max Fried all have better numbers this season than Cole, who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. But Cole has the name and the track record.
Cole has started 12 playoff games in his Yankees career, with a 2.93 ERA. He's started 22 playoff games in total with a 2.77 ERA and 1.020 WHIP that reveal how misleading his 7-8 career postseason record is.
Going solely by this season, the Yankees might have better options. But Cole has the longest resume of success, and on Saturday, he'll have the ball.