New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole Does Something That Hasn't Been in More Than 70 Years

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole did something that hasn't been done for the Yankees in more than 70 years on Saturday. With 5.2 scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cole finished April with a 0.79 ERA. That is the third-lowest era for a Yankees starter through his first five starts in history, and the lowest since Eddie Lopat in 1951.

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole just keeps rolling, and he's making some team history in the process.

With 5.2 scoreless innings pitched on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cole finished the month of April with a 0.79 ERA.

According to a tweet from ESPN Stats & Info, that leaves Cole in some rarified air.

"Gerrit Cole finishes today's outing with a scoreless 5.2 IP. His 0.79 ERA is the 3rd-lowest by any Yankees pitcher through their 5 starts of a season. Only Eddie Lopat (0.60 ERA in 1951) and Spud Chandler (0.60 ERA in 1946) have had lower.

Gerrit Cole finishes today's outing with a scoreless 5.2 IP.

His 0.79 ERA is the 3rd-lowest by any Yankees pitcher through their first 5 starts of a season.

Only Eddie Lopat (0.60 ERA in 1951) and Spud Chandler (0.60 ERA in 1946) have had lower. pic.twitter.com/2K2EovrOVB

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 22, 2023

With all the history that the Yankees have, any time you do anything that hasn't been in 70 years, that's quite a feat.

It's hard to imagine Cole getting any better as he's already one of the best pitchers in baseball, but it appears he's doing just that.

The 32-year-old already entered today at 4-0 and currently has the 0.79 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. For his career, he's 134-71 with a 3.19 ERA.

He was the overall number one pick in the 2011 draft out of UCLA and has been a horse ever since.

He made his debut in 2013 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was traded to the Astros before the 2018 season. He signed with the Yankees before the 2020 season. 

Cole is a five-time all-star (2015, 2018-19, 2021-22) who led the American League in ERA in 2019 (2.50 ERA). He led the AL in wins in 2021 (16). He's also received Cy Young votes in six separate seasons and MVP votes in three different seasons.

At the time of this posting, the Yankees and Blue Jays are tied 0-0 in the top of the eighth inning, so Cole will not factor into the decision.