Cole not likely to see Mets in Friday tune-up

Gerrit Cole is not gearing up to face the Mets. The Yankees ace’s next turn would likely come Friday, when the Yankees are scheduled to face the Mets in an exhibition game, but Cole said he “hasn’t put a ton of thought” into his next scheduled appearance.

He was just trying to get through his first hot day on the mound.

“I was just trying to focus on today,” Cole said after pitching 5.2 innings in an intrasquad scrimmage at the Stadium. And now I’m trying to drink some water and then I’ll get to the next start in the next 24-to-48 hours and I’ll have a better idea.”

Sunday, Cole threw 84 pitches, allowed four hits, no runs. He walked one and struck out nine.

Aaron Boone said Cole would “probably not” pitch in the exhibition game on Friday. While the thought of seeing Cole face hitters from another team is certainly attractive, he is strictly focused on trying to get ready for the coronavirusshortened regular season under anything but “regular” circumstances. “I thought I was prepared and I made some adjustments with the fastball. I didn’t really have any scenarios where I lost command. So I thought I was improved from that aspect,” Cole said of his outing. “And I’m pretty tired right now. So we’ll see. I’m certainly not anticipating it being a significant challenge but it was hot and I am tired as of right now.”

Boone thought Cole looked sharper than he did in his last outing.

“I thought he was even a little bit crisper this time out. I thought his fastball was playing a little bit better. I thought he did a good job with it in the strike zone,” Boone said. “And then running it up in the strike zone when he wanted to. I thought that was really effective while still maintaining the command with the secondary stuff that was again excellent. So another really good step for him to get up over 80 pitches and get through six innings.”

Cole expected to start the “regular season,” July 23 against the World Series defending champion Nationals in D.C., he is at the point of a normal spring training where managers and pitching coaches usually like to start pulling back a little to keep a pitcher fresh and healthy for the regular season.