Yanks’ Rodon making good first impression

Cole hopes southpaw can help end Astros jinx

The Yankees will likely be answering plenty of questions about the Astros over the next eight months after being eliminated by Houston in the ALCS for the third time in six seasons.

Are they finally good enough to close the gap after the fourgame sweep? It appeared to be as large a gap as at any point during the recent rivalry as the third installment of the playoff matchup wasn’t particularly a close contest either, just ask Gerrit Cole.

“I mean, we got waxed,” Cole said Thursday at George M

Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. “Anytime you get waxed, it doesn’t feel good, whether you’re going to the salon or you’re on the baseball field.”

The 32-year-old is entering his fourth season with the Bombers and is still in search of his first World Series title. Cole, who pitched to a 3.50 ERA in 33 starts last season, feels like the club that is reporting to Tampa this spring is good enough to be the last team standing by emphatically saying he “believes in our team.”

The biggest difference between last season’s club is the man who will likely be taking the ball behind Cole in the rotation. Carlos Rodon was the prized possession — outside of retaining Aaron Judge — of the offseason. The 30-year-old inked a six-year, $162 million contract after his stellar year with the Giants — 2.88 ERA in 31 starts — in 2022.

The Bombers’ new southpaw has already made a good impression on his fellow ace.

“I first met Carlos a handful of years ago, working out,” said Cole. “I was struck by just his raw strength and intensity. And I think everyone’s kind of gotten to see that a little bit more as he continues to take the mound over and over again and prog

Adam Hunger/Associated Press The New York Yankees’ Carlos Rodon speaks during his introductory news conference at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 22 in New York.