NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole is confronting a sudden home run problem at the worst time for the New York Yankees. The right-hander allowed four home runs last week against the Padres — including to the first three batters of the game — and another three against the Mets on Saturday, with the combined seven the most he has given up in a two-start stretch in his career. Cole did not have an immediate answer for the cause but agreed that chase and swing-and-miss have regressed significantly this season, while he and manager Aaron Boone maintained health is not an issue and expressed confidence they will find the necessary adjustment. The stretch is reminiscent of his 2022 campaign, when he led MLB with 33 home runs surrendered.
The Yankees' recent offensive turnaround has coincided with Cody Bellinger's return from injury. Bellinger homered again in the loss to the Mets on Saturday, giving him three home runs in his last four games. The left fielder is slashing .368/.359/.605 in September, and his hot bat alongside Ben Rice's resurgence at the plate has helped take pressure off Aaron Judge, allowing the captain to focus on regaining his timing ahead of the playoffs.
Clarke Schmidt took a step toward a return in what he and the team hope is his final rehab appearance before rejoining the big league club for the first time this season. Schmidt threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief for Double-A Somerset on Saturday, striking out three on just 21 pitches. He has not pitched in MLB since undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2025 and has focused his rehab assignment specifically on joining the bullpen when activated to the major league roster.
Former top Yankees pitching prospect Chase Hampton has been claimed off waivers by the Nationals after New York designated him for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Judge's return. Hampton was a consensus top-10 Yankees prospect and top-100 prospect overall before a forearm injury in 2024 and Tommy John surgery in 2025 derailed his trajectory. The 25-year-old right-hander, drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft and once the organization's top-ranked pitching prospect, has been assigned to Double-A Harrisburg and will look to improve on his 8.18 ERA in 55 innings this year.