Gerrit Cole Returns Friday for Rays Vs Yankees Opener
Gerrit Cole returns to a game that counts for rays vs yankees on Friday, May 22, 2026, when the Yankees open a series against the Rays at 7:05 pm ET. It will be his first competitive appearance in a year and a half after Tommy John surgery recovery, and it comes with New York trying to avoid falling further behind in the AL East.
Cole Back On The Mound
Cole is set to start after missing all of last season and the first couple months of this one. He hit 99 mph with his fastball in his most recent minor league rehab start, a strong sign that the Yankees are willing to put him back into a high-leverage division game right away.
The matchup arrives after New York split a four-game series with the Blue Jays and scored just one total run over its last two games against Toronto. That leaves the Yankees needing a sharper start from the top of the rotation if they want to make up ground in a division race that has not slowed down for the Rays.
Rays Lead The American League
Tampa Bay has led the American League in wins to start 2026 and also sits atop the AL East. A Yankees series sweep could get New York within one game of the Rays, while a Rays sweep would push the gap to a point that would be far from impossible to claw back. That is the margin hanging over this series before the first pitch.
The Rays have already shown they can suppress New York’s offense. Drew Rasmussen held the Yankees to no runs and one hit in six innings on April 12, 2026, and he is scheduled to start Saturday against an unconfirmed Yankees pitcher. Rasmussen has a 3.19 ERA over nine starts this season, giving Tampa Bay another arm that has already handled this lineup.
Martinez And McClanahan
Friday’s opener also puts Nick Martinez in the spotlight for Tampa Bay. He has opened 2026 with a 1.51 ERA, a 3.26 FIP, 2.3 rWAR and 1.3 fWAR, plus a 91.1% left on base percentage that has helped him keep damage off the board.
Sunday brings another familiar name in Shane McClanahan, who is back in the majors after missing all of the last two seasons with Tommy John surgery and further injuries. He has a 2.82 ERA and 2.73 FIP this season, so the Yankees will see three different Rays starters with clean numbers before the series is over.
For New York, the series starts with Cole and little room for another quiet week at the plate. The first pitch arrives Friday night, and the Yankees will need the version of their ace that can stabilize a staff trying to stay attached to the top of the division.
