Here is the rosiest takeaway from Gerrit Cole’s afternoon: He almost certainly will not have to face Rafael Devers in the postseason.
When Cole pitches to the Red Sox slugger, he loses.
When Cole declines to pitch to Devers, he loses.
The Yankees ace was rolling through three innings Saturday, elected to intentionally walk Devers and proceeded to unravel in a fashion that was both stunning and stunningly quick.
The Yankees’ likely Game 1 playoff starter came apart in a 7-1 loss in front of a sellout crowd of 46,378 in The Bronx.
After three innings in which he only allowed one baserunner (that baserunner of course was Devers, who was hit by a cutter in the first inning), Cole’s day turned in the fourth inning.
With one out and no one on base, he raised a white flag in the form of four fingers, pointing Devers to first base.
Cole had seen enough of a three-time All-Star who entered play with a 1.370 OPS with eight home runs against Cole.
No other hitter has taken Cole deep more than four times.
The decision was surprising.
The aftermath was more so.