THE MISSING SLIDER: WHEN WILL GERRIT COLE START THROWING HIS SECONDARY BREAKING PITCHES?
Gerrit Cole is throwing heat! Read about his 97 MPH fastball, his mid-season return, and how he saves the Yankees' 2026 rotation.
The Yankees are putting a lot on Gerrit Cole’s shoulders this season, especially after his elbow surgery. Cole’s 35 now. He had Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2025. Before that, in 2024, he threw 95 innings with a 3.41 ERA.
He saw this coming with his elbow, honestly. And his contract added some drama. There was an opt-out after 2024, but the Yankees could cancel it by just tacking on another year at $36 million. Since Cole needed surgery, both sides agreed to leave the deal alone: no opt-out, no extra year. That way, Cole could just focus on getting healthy without worrying about his future.
And, man, Cole looks ready. He’s been sharp this spring, already touching 97 mph with his fastball. That’s not rehab speed; that’s what he throws in games. The Yankees wanted to see that, and they have.
Brendan Kuty from The Athletic said on the Fireside Yankees podcast that Cole looks good. Sure, he’s just throwing fastballs right now, but 97 is 97. Even for an inning, he doesn’t look hurt. He didn’t cruise through his rehab either. The Yankees’ season really rides on him. If he’s healthy and pitching well, this team is in a much better spot.
That’s basically the story. The Yankees are pretty much the same team that lost to the Blue Jays in the ALDS. They brought in Ryan Weathers and kept Cody Bellinger and Paul Blackburn, but that’s about it. If Cole comes back around late May or early June and pitches as he did in 2023, when he put up a 2.82 ERA, suddenly this team feels different.
Let’s talk rotation. Right now, the Yankees start the year with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil. Fried’s the ace. Schlittler showed flashes last year but still needs to get his secondary pitches working. Warren’s fastball is legit, but when he can’t land his breaking stuff, he struggles. Weather? He’s got upside but can’t stay healthy. Gil is fun to watch, but up and down.
This group might win 85-90 games. It’s not a World Series rotation, though. Add Cole, and the whole picture changes. Fried and Cole at the top can match up with anybody in October. Schlittler slides to third, so there’s less pressure on him.
Don’t forget Carlos Rodon; he’s coming back from elbow surgery, too, and should return by late April or early May. So by June, the Yankees could be rolling out Fried, Rodon, and Cole. That’s a huge step up from where they started the season.
But it’s not just about velocity with Cole. He’s focusing on his fastball right now; sliders and breaking balls come later. He hopes to be back in late May or early June. Seeing him throw that hard is a good sign, but the real test is when he starts mixing in his full arsenal. His slider is nasty, his curve sets up his heater, and his changeup keeps hitters honest.
Kuty also said it’s not just the speed; it’s how intense and smooth he looks. Like, get ready; this could be special as Cole finds his rhythm again.
That edge is what sets great pitchers apart. Cole doesn’t just throw hard. He’s a competitor. He attacks hitters and makes them uncomfortable, even when they know what’s coming. You can’t measure that on a radar gun, but it’s huge in the postseason.
Even if Cole comes back at 75%, he’s still a major boost for this team. Seriously, a 75% Cole is better than most starters at full strength. If he’s sitting 95-96 instead of 97-98, fine. If his slider isn’t as sharp, they’ll take it. If he can give them 160-170 innings and an ERA around 3.50, that’s a win.
The Yankees don’t need him to be the Cy Young runner-up from 2023. They need him to take the ball, keep them in games, and eat innings. If he does that, the rotation goes from shaky to solid.
If he’s fully back by September, the Yankees are set. That’s when you want your ace healthy. Playoff baseball is all about pitching depth, and having Cole, Fried, and Rodon can change everything.
They can live with a slow start if they know Cole’s coming. They can deal with young pitchers taking their lumps because help is on the way. But if Cole really looks like himself when he returns, this team suddenly has one of the best rotations in baseball.
For now, everyone’s watching the next bullpen. Can he snap off the slider? Is the curve still nasty? The answers will tell you if the Yankees are for real this year.
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
