Yankees’ Gerrit Cole excited to face ‘longest friend in the game’

CHICAGO — If Gerrit Cole wanted to turn the opposing pitcher on days he starts into an unlikeable target, that would be impossible on Sunday.

Jameson Taillon is too good of a friend, and too nice of a person, for Cole to take that approach.

Instead, the Yankees ace will be trying to just enjoy the day on Sunday when he duels against Taillon for the first time in their careers in the series finale at Wrigley Field.

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“My longest friend in the game, probably my best friend in the game,” Cole, who will also be turning 34 on Sunday, said Saturday afternoon before the Yankees’ 2-0 win . “I can’t root against him. And I don’t really want to root less for him. So I’m probably just going to try to not think about it. But I will sneak a few — I’ll definitely watch him.

“I enjoyed pitching against Justin [Verlander] and Charlie [Morton] in the past and other ex-teammates. Jamo’s just a little different, because we were in Pirate City [the Pirates minor league complex in Bradenton, Fla.] together to start it all off. So I’m just hoping it’s a good day.”

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Taillon was the Pirates’ first-round pick in 2010, with Cole following as the club’s first-round pick in 2011. After spending time in the minor leagues together, they shared a rotation in Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017 before Cole was traded to the Pirates.

They then reunited in The Bronx from 2021-2022 before Taillon became a free agent and signed a four-year, $68 million contract with the Cubs.

On Thursday’s off day, Taillon and Cole’s wife Amy surprised him with an early birthday party, which included the two pitchers and their wives taking a boat out in Chicago.

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On Friday, Taillon sent Cole a coffee at Wrigley Field.

“He’s just an unbelievable friend,” Cole said. “I mean, I think he’s watched 250 of my major league starts out of 300, and I might be shooting that low.

“He has people that adore him in Pittsburgh, people here [in the Yankees clubhouse] adore him, I know he’s obviously well-liked over there [in the Cubs clubhouse]. I’m so proud of him. He’s overcome two Tommy Johns, testicular cancer and he won the division-clinching game for us [in 2022].

“Things that could break a man haven’t broken him. He’s not just survived but he’s a great pitcher and he’s gonna be a 10-year major league vet. He’s represented the Yankees with grace and class and he’s a great ambassador for the Chicago Cubs. I just love the guy. I’m super proud of him.”

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