Cole in awkward spot as fans boo old team

NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole watched quietly from the dugout Tuesday night as the small crowd at Yankee Stadium grew louder and louder, angrier and angrier, taunting and chastising his former teammates. The ace came over to the Yankees about a month before the Astros hitters were revealed to have cheated in 2017 — the year before Cole was traded to Houston by the Pirates.

Cole has insisted he knew nothing about the system the Astros used to electronically steal signs and relay them in real-time to hitters. Tuesday night, he said it was an “emotional night for everyone.” The fans, who did not see the Astros last year after the report revealed what most in baseball had long suspected, let loose with vulgar chants and boos. They stood up for every Astros at-bat, cheering every out and singling out Jose Altuve, who edged out Aaron Judge for the MVP in 2017, for nonstop abuse.

“The fans have their emotions that they need to express. I mean, it is what it is,” Cole said when asked how he felt about the crowd riding Jose Altuve all night. “I think as players just our job is to try to do our job really the best we can and not listen to the crowd, whether it be good or bad. The environment was hostile and emotional. I don’t expect that to change in the next few games, certainly. In a sense, it is what it is and we’ll have to deal with it.”

Cole will have a chance to be on the field for it Thursday, when he faces his former teammates for the first time.

Odor out: After a collision at the plate Tuesday night, Rougned Odor was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left knee sprain. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said they feel like they dodged serious injury, but was waiting for a final diagnosis from team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.

“He does have that minor sprain. I think all things considered, we kind of lucked out. I think you saw my reaction jump out on the field because it looked ugly to me right away,’’ Boone said of the collision with Astros catcher Martin Maldanado. “And I was pretty concerned. So I think it’s going to be on the shorter side. I don’t want to speculate until Dr. Ahmad kind of gives that prognosis but I don’t think it’s going to be something that’s too long.”

The Yankees recalled right-handed pitcher Albert Abreu to take Odor’s spot. Wednesday night, Boone had Mike Ford in the lineup at first, allowing DJ LeMahieu to move back to second base.