The Dodgers have faced Gerrit Cole once already in the World Series, and Los Angeles infielder Tommy Edman expects it should help having that experience against him under their belt, but they’re still aware of the challenge in front of them.
After the Yankees kept their season alive on Tuesday night, they will hand the ball back over to their ace on Wednesday night in the hopes of forcing another trip to Los Angeles for a Game 6 on Friday night.
Cole pitched six innings in Game 1, giving the Yankees a strong performance allowing just one run on four hits and striking out four.
The Yankees blew a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning and lost the game after Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 10th.
“It definitely helps [having faced Cole], but he’s still a great pitcher,” Edman said. “He’s got really great pitches and does a good job of understanding what he needs to do to get guys out. But just having seen him, having a good idea or a better idea of how his pitches move helps a lot of us out. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
Freddie Freeman, Enrique Hernández, Edman and Teoscar Hernández were the only Dodgers to register hits in Game 1 against Cole.
Freeman hit a first-inning triple, Enrique Hernández tripled in the fifth and Edman hit a double to lead off the sixth inning.
“It’s always nice to face someone a few days ago, but he’s still one of the best pitchers in the game. It’s not going to be easy so we’ve got our hands full,” Freeman said.
Cole is starting on a regular four-day rest in the do-or-die Game 5 and will be making his 12 postseason start as a Yankee.
The right-hander is 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 11 playoff starts with the Yankees.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:
- Yankees keep season alive as offense finally breaks out in big way
- Rookie’s first World Series outing was just enough for the Yankees
- Heyman: Yankees finally showed some signs to believe in as Bombers keep title hopes alive
- Vaccaro: The Yankees were at rock bottom before Anthony Volpe’s heroics
Considering the Yankees season was on the brink coming into Tuesday night, Cole was asked how he prepares for a game that might not even happen.
“Well, I just assume I’m going to start it, so yeah,” he said matter-of-factly.
