Cole returns to SoCal: 'It's good to be back'

ANAHEIM -- For Gerrit Cole, perhaps the only greater challenge than navigating around Shohei Ohtani in the Angels' lineup is dealing with a crush of ticket requests from friends and family. The Yankees are wearing their road grays, but for the ace right-hander, this is very much a home series.

“It’s been a while since I was able to play in front of friends and family in California,” Cole said. “It’s nice. My mom is coming to BP today, so she’s pumped. It’s good to see all these people; they like to come to the park and watch me play. It’s good to be back. It feels good.”

Cole grew up in nearby Newport Beach, Calif., and attended numerous Angels games as a boy, though his rooting interests were always a coast away with the Yankees. When Cole developed into one of the country’s top prospects, he played in showcase events frequently at Angel Stadium.

“I drive my truck here and park in the same spot I used to park in pretty much every time,” said Cole, who was scheduled to start Wednesday's game. “We had season tickets, so I’m really familiar with the park. That doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. I’ll still probably have quite a bit of a battle on my hands [Wednesday].”

Cole has made four career big league starts in Anaheim, pitching to a 3-0 record with a 2.70 ERA. Those numbers provide some comfort, but Cole is especially wary of Ohtani, who led the Majors with 42 homers entering Tuesday’s action.

Asked if there was one specific pitch he would not throw to Ohtani, Cole responded with mock outrage: “He does not need any more advantage. OK, I won’t throw a knuckleball. There you go.”

Surgery set
Zack Britton has opted for surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow, the Yankees left-hander said on Tuesday. Britton’s decision came after a consultation with Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who examined the pitcher on Monday in Los Angeles.

Britton said that ElAttrache will perform the procedure on Sept. 8. ElAttrache also plans to examine Britton’s ulnar collateral ligament for damage, though Britton said that he expects to be ready for a full 2022 season.

“Tommy John isn’t the only thing they do nowadays with the UCL, there’s other options,” Britton said. “[There's] going to be a determination if it needs to be reconstructed or repaired, but I think we’re all hopeful that it’s not severe and we can just do something minimal.”

Britton endured the most difficult season of his career this year, pitching to a 5.89 ERA in 22 appearances. Britton lost 18 pounds after a preseason bout with COVID-19, then had his season debut delayed by surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow. Britton also spent time on the injured list with a left hamstring injury sustained in late July.

“It’s disappointing to end this way,” Britton said. “I’ve played a long time and have been fortunate not to have a lot of injuries. I just view it as another chapter of my career where I get to use these months to make myself better.”

Moves on deck
Outfielder Estevan Florial Florial and right-hander Brooks Kriske are both traveling with the club on its taxi squad, and manager Aaron Boone said they are likely to be activated on Wednesday when rosters expand from 26 to 28 players.

Right-hander Albert Abreu is also on the taxi squad, but Abreu is not eligible to be recalled unless there is an injury.

This date in Yankees history
Aug. 31, 1995: Paul O’Neill homered in his first three at-bats, collecting a career-high eight RBIs in an 11-6 victory over the Angels at Yankee Stadium.