Gerrit Cole's Probable Cy Young Clinching Start Re-Opened the Record Books

As New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole put his stamp on his 2023 season, he made multiple instances of team and baseball history.

The New York Yankees are doing their best to play spoiler in the American League playoff picture, beating the Toronto Blue Jays on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The Yankees got two home runs from superstar Aaron Judge on Wednesday and also got a dominant performance from ace Gerrit Cole, which just may clinch him the American League Cy Young award.

Cole went all 9.0 innings, allowing no runs on just two hits. He walked none, struck out five and moved to 15-4 on the season. He's also got a ridiculous 2.63 ERA.

All in all, he's struck out 222 batters in 209.0 innings this year.

His start on Wednesday made multiple instances of team and baseball history.

Per Katie Sharp of Stathead on social media:

Gerrit Cole is the 1st pitcher in Yankees history with 17+ IP and 4 or fewer baserunners allowed in any 2-game span

Gerrit Cole is the 1st pitcher in Yankees history with 17+ IP and 4 or fewer baserunners allowed in any 2-game span

— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) September 28, 2023

And per James Smyth of the YES Network:

Gerrit Cole finishes his season with a 2.63 ERA in 209 innings 

He's the first Yankees pitcher to lead the American League in ERA since Rudy May in 1980

Gerrit Cole finishes his season with a 2.63 ERA in 209 innings

He's the first Yankees pitcher to lead the American League in ERA since Rudy May in 1980

— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) September 28, 2023

And this, per @OptaSTATS:

Since the All-Star break, the @Yankees' Gerrit Cole has had 5 starts where he pitched 7.0+ innings while allowing 3 or fewer hits and no walks. 

No other MLB pitcher in the modern era has had 5 such starts over an entire season.

Since the All-Star break, the @Yankees' Gerrit Cole has had 5 starts where he pitched 7.0+ innings while allowing 3 or fewer hits and no walks.

No other MLB pitcher in the modern era has had 5 such starts over an entire season. pic.twitter.com/Ib6ZohxY2I

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 28, 2023

The Yankees are 81-77 on the year and are guaranteed to finish with at least a .500 record despite not making the playoffs.

They'll play the Blue Jays again on Thursday.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Check out more New York Yankees coverage at Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Inside the Pinstripes.