New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is set to take the mound on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, aiming to improve his performance as the postseason approaches. His primary challenge at the plate will be Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz.
Díaz has recently struggled, going hitless in his last five games. However, Cole presents an opportunity for him to break out of his slump. Díaz has consistently performed well against Cole throughout their careers, holding a .340 batting average with a .520 slugging percentage and a .909 OPS in 50 at-bats. He has recorded 17 hits against Cole, including three doubles and two home runs, and has continued that success in 2026, going 3-for-6 with a double against him this season.
Cole's recent outings have been inconsistent. While he allowed only two runs over six innings with six strikeouts in his last start against the Diamondbacks, he surrendered nine earned runs and seven home runs in the two starts prior. His season-long statistics indicate he has been hit hard, with his average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage ranking in the bottom four percent of the league. This suggests Díaz has a strong chance to produce against the Yankees right-hander.
Díaz batting near the top of the Rays' lineup should provide him with multiple opportunities to achieve at least one extra-base hit. This bet focuses on the matchup history between the two players rather than Díaz's recent hitting difficulties.