The Yankees have tried to give the now 35-year-old Cole as much time as needed to ramp up for his season debut. In six rehab starts spanning 29 innings, Cole pitched to a 4.66 ERA, allowing three walks and striking out 28.

While the numbers do not look amazing, Cole looked his best in his latest rehab appearance. He went 5.1 innings, allowed one run and struck out six. He also got his pitch count up to 86.

Most importantly, Cole’s velocity has not diminished after surgery or with age. He topped out at 99.6 mph during his rehab assignment.

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Cole was expected to have one more rehab outing before joining the club, but the Yankees believe they have seen enough. The best way to get out of a slump is for the ace to make his presence felt. The Yankees hope Cole can provide that spark tonight.

2. Can Aaron Judge and the Offense Get Back On Track?

Another major issue that has plagued the Yankees over their last 15 games is the lack of offense. New York is hitting just .206 during this stretch and averaging 3.4 runs per game.

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At the center of their struggles is Aaron Judge. The captain is hitting .196 with 22 strikeouts during this stretch.

Judge has not had the same consistency with the bat this year as he had over the past two seasons. During that span, Judge hit above .300 both times and looked like one of the most complete hitters in baseball.

His average this season has hovered around .250, which is where it sits now. If the Yankees want to break out of their hitting woes, it begins with Judge.

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3. Can David Bednar and the Bullpen Get Back Into Form?

A glaring issue that has started to hurt the Yankees during this recent stretch is the performance of closer David Bednar.

The right-hander has allowed runs in three straight appearances and five of his last seven. That has ballooned his season ERA to 5.14.

It has not only been Bednar, though. The Yankees’ bullpen has a 3.98 ERA since May 10, ranking 10th in the major leagues. Too many games have gotten out of hand or too close for comfort because of it.

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The Rays are one of the peskiest teams in baseball and often give opposing pitchers headaches. They never seem to go away and battle all the way to the end.

The relievers will have to be on top of their game if the Yankees hope to take the series from the team with the best record in baseball.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.