Yankees Aim for Victory with Gerrit Cole Against Cubs’ Colin Rea

The Yankees entered Chicago with high hopes, having secured two consecutive victories over the White Sox. A successful trip seemed within reach, with the prospect of finishing 5-2 or even 6-1 on the horizon. However, after dropping the final two games against the Pale Hose and splitting the first two contests against the Cubs, they now find themselves in need of a Sunday win to leave the Windy City with a winning record for this seven-game stretch.

Tasked with this crucial assignment is Gerrit Cole, the former AL Cy Young Award winner. Making his 13th start since returning from Tommy John surgery, Cole is coming off one of his strongest performances. In a recent matchup against the White Sox, he delivered six innings of shutout baseball, leading the Yankees to a 3-2 victory.

Since his return, Cole has predominantly relied on his overpowering fastball, throwing it 46% of the time, complemented by his sinker at 5%. This strategy has forced opposing hitters to confront his hard stuff more than half the time, and it has proven effective; batters have managed a mere .207 average against his fastball. Two additional components of Cole’s success include his ability to rack up strikeouts—averaging more than a whiff per inning—and his impressive walk rate, which ranks him in the 95th percentile.

On the mound for the Cubs is veteran right-hander Colin Rea, who has struggled with an ERA above 88. Rea’s tendency to allow baserunners and his inability to miss bats raise concerns about his long-term success. Despite these challenges, he employs a diverse arsenal of seven pitches, featuring a mid-90s fastball thrown nearly half the time. Left-handed hitters can expect to see more changeups and curveballs, while right-handers will likely face a mix of sweepers and sinkers.

Several Yankees have had success against Rea in limited encounters. Trent Grisham and Jasson Domínguez have both taken him deep, while Paul Goldschmidt boasts three hits in ten at-bats against him. Keep an eye on Spencer Jones, who has been on a tear since July 26, hitting three home runs and driving in six runs over seven games, showcasing an impressive 1.303 OPS. If he can add another homer to his tally today, it would certainly be welcome.

Following this series, the Yankees will face off against the storied St. Louis Cardinals, making it essential for them to leave Chicago on a high note.

How to Watch:

Location: Wrigley Field — Chicago, IL

First Pitch: 2:20 pm EDT

TV Broadcast: YES / Marquee Sports Network

Radio Broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9FM, WADO 1280 / 104.3 The Score, TUDN, WPPN 106.7/TUDN

Online Stream: MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

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Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.