Yankees concerns beyond Gerrit Cole illuminated in Subway Series loss to the Mets

NEW YORK – Flatly stated, Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole said he “certainly had the stuff’’ on Tuesday night “to give us a chance to win’’ at Citi Field against the Mets.

“And I just pitched poorly.’’

Cole accepted the premise that it’s still “his spring training,’’ as captain Aaron Judge put it, building back from elbow nerve irritation that delayed his season debut until last week.

But this is the reigning unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner, the rock of the Yankees’ rotation.

So, it’s impossible to ignore the dip in fastball velocity, or his four homers and four walks allowed in the Subway Series opener – Cole’s second start of the year.

“I’m feeling really good physically,’’ said Cole, probably the best takeaway from a 9-7 loss to the Mets after he lasted four innings and did not record a strikeout – just the second time that’s happened in 302 career starts.

Cole spent 28 of his 72 pitches in the first inning, walking three batters.

That inning, Cole’s fastball touched 99-mph but dropped from there. Of the three homers Cole yielded on fastballs, including two by Mark Vientos, the speeds ranged from 91.5-mph to 93-mph.

Cole mostly blamed his command, saying those fastballs were meant to be down and away.

“It’s a bit like driving a car,’’ Cole said of his fastball. “Too much clutch, or too little clutch can slip you out of gear a little bit.’’

Manager Aaron Boone’s assessment that Cole was “trying to find his gauge out there…as he builds up,’’ matched Cole’s sentiment.

Yankees have more current concerns beyond Gerrit Cole

There are certainly developing areas of concern beyond Cole’s wobbly start to 2024.

Surpassed by the Cleveland Guardians for the league’s best record, the Yankees – who’ve lost seven of their last nine games – would’ve lost their first-place grip, if not for the Baltimore Orioles’ current five-game slide.

Suddenly, the injury losses to Clarke Schmidt in the rotation, and Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo (despite a .630 OPS in 70 games) in the lineup seem more critical.

The bullpen needs upgrading, and the batting order after Judge – whose eighth-inning grand slam Tuesday gave the Yanks a puncher’s chance – looks 2023 thin.

That was Jahmai Jones (0-for-3) at DH for the first time this year, in a Subway Series game, while newly acquired JD Davis (0-for-3) was understandably rusty in his Yankee debut, his first game in 10 days.

DJ LeMahieu (0-for-4, walk) is batting .174 with zero extra base hits in 22 games since being delayed by a fractured right foot.

And then there’s second baseman Gleyber Torres (0-for-4, walk), in a 2-for-29 skid during a rocky free agent walk year that became rockier Tuesday.

Gleyber Torres' rough season continues

Torres’ misplay on Brandon Nimmo’s grounder, with the infield in, contributed to the Mets’ three-run sixth inning.

“That’s a play he should make,’’ said Boone, who later watched Torres jog to first base on a groundout to end the eighth.

Boone referenced Torres’ recent bout with right groin tightness, so “there’s certain spots where he’s going to be a little bit careful’’ on the bases.

Still, Boone said he spoke with Torres after the game and suggested another conversation will take place before posting Wednesday’s lineup.

After the Yankees loaded the bases with none out to start the game (including a walk by Juan Soto, who later homered), Mets’ lefty David Patterson struck out the side – starting with Torres, who was batting cleanup.

Another lefty, Sean Manaea, starts for the Mets on Wednesday, and Torres is “obviously really important to what we’re doing, especially right now, needing some meat in the middle of that lineup,’’ said Boone.

“We’ve got to get him going.’’