Gerrit Cole starting Game 1 of ALDS vs. Royals

NEW YORK — As it turns out, Gerrit Cole is right where he is supposed to be: Ready to take the ball for Saturday’s Game 1 of the Division Series against the Royals as his Yankees begin their latest quest for what has proved to be an elusive 28th World Series title.

But for Cole, the uncertainty of a right elbow issue that took over his spring preceded the excitement he felt in Friday’s press conference.

A veteran of the postseason, Cole’s typical formula is to dominate the six-month regular season before getting the ball in October.

The arc was much different this time.

“We were talking about the uncertainty there for a while,” said Cole. “It was the first time going through something. So like anybody else, the first time you go through something, you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to navigate it. I got a second bite at the apple and I’m in a really good position right now. “

Cole’s season started on June 19, and he basically got in half a season, making 17 starts and pitching 95 innings, going 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA.

“It’s [been] a season of ups and downs, a season of perseverance,” said Cole. “I’m thankful that I was able to come through the injury all right and be in a good position, as good a position as I can be at this point and feeling really good going into the most important games of the year. I’m happy I’m in a position now to be able to contribute. It’s taken a while.”

Cole has pitched his best down the stretch, posting a 2.25 ERA in his final 10 starts of the regular season, culminating with 6 2/3 shutout innings (two hits allowed) on Sept. 26, the night the Yankees clinched the American League East against the Orioles.

For Yankees manager Aaron Boone, giving Cole the ball on eight days of rest to start the postseason is a comforting feeling.

“There’s no one else we’d want to hand the ball to,” Boone said. “He’s battle tested. He’s pitched in a ton of big games in his career, obviously. He’s our ace. He’s been through a lot this year and working his way back from injury really for the first time in his career, and he’s worked his tail off to get to a point.”

The 34-year-old Cole has a more extensive postseason resume than you probably remember. Before coming to the Yankees, Cole also made October outings for the 2013 Pirates and 2018-19 Astros. On Saturday, his fifth October run in Pinstripes will formally kick off. In all, Cole is 10-6 with a 2.93 ERA in 17 postseason starts.

“It’s just like any baseball tournament that you get excited for as a 12-year-old,” Cole said. “It’s like, ‘OK, we get to go try to win something that’s really important.’ It’s obviously just higher stakes, higher leverage. Momentum can change on any pitch. It’s super exciting.”

The Royals know what they are up against.

“I’ve seen plenty of him over the years to know that he’s a unicorn in this game,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “He’s a closer that can do it for nine innings. He locates, he’s got plus pitches on every front, he can pitch to righties and lefties. He’s super competitive. He seems to be built for the big stage and really embraced that. He is the ultimate competitor.”

“This is what you kind of dream of growing up,” Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. said of facing Cole with so much on the line. “You want to face that guy. You want to face the ace.”

If Witt wonders what the atmosphere will be like on Saturday night in the Bronx in October, Cole painted a vivid picture.

“It’s a different sound,” said Cole. “The sound fills you from the feet up. It’s just a different sound. It’s wonderful.”

Since the day Cole arrived in New York via that nine-year, $324 million contract, the pressure has been on for the Yankees to win it all for the first time since ‘09. They need 11 more wins. Cole hopes to provide a few to put toward the cause.

“I’ve been trying to do that for a long time,” Cole said. “That would be great. That would be amazing. Yeah, we’ve got a long way to go, though, so don’t bring me there. We’ve got to take care of Saturday first.”