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NEW YORK – Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not make his scheduled departure on Tuesday, the latest virus setback for the team.
New York manager Aaron Boone made the announcement following Monday night’s 7-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. He said he was told of the positive test in the second set.
“Right now he’s the only one,” Boone said.
Earlier this month, star slugger Aaron Judge was among six Yankees players who tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Certainly it’s tough. It’s been a tough year. We had this news with Cole and definitely a blow there,” Yankees wide receiver Gary Sanchez said through a performer.
Cole is 10-6 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts. The four-time All-Star just suffered a 14-0 loss at Tampa Bay on July 29, where he allowed eight runs in 5 innings.
Cole, 30, is in his second season with the Yankees.
Boone said Nestor Cortes Jr. would likely start in place of Cole against the Orioles. Cortes has no records and a 1.93 ERA in three starts and eight relief appearances for the Yankees this season.
The Yankees’ first game after the All-Star break on July 15 against Boston has been postponed due to their virus outbreak.
Judge, pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta and Cortes, wide receiver Kyle Higashioka and infielder Gio Urshela have been put on the COVID-19 injured list.
Several teams around the majors have recently been affected by positive tests for the virus. Among them, the Milwaukee Brewers brought together Josh Hader, star outfielder Christian Yelich and pitchers Jake Cousins, Jandel Gustave and Hunter Strickland on the COVID-19 injured list last week.
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