#Returning Gerrit Cole mystified by Yankees’ outbreak

CHICAGO — Gerrit Cole will start for the Yankees on Monday when they face the Angels in The Bronx, in what will be his first game back since hitting the COVID IL after experiencing what he called “mild” symptoms.

The right-hander was part of the team’s latest outbreak and said he doesn’t have an explanation for why they’ve been hit so hard by the virus this season — or what the players and staff can do differently.

“If I had an idea what behavior I did or how I got it, I’d certainly advocate for an adjustment,’’ Cole said Sunday before the Yankees played their series finale against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. “But I have no idea where I got it… I have no idea how to avoid that.”

Cole added: “It’s not like we’re going out to grimy bars and grinding til four in the morning.”

At this point, Cole said the team would “just keep our fingers crossed… and hopefully we’ve overcome most of it going into the playoffs.”

Of his start Monday, Cole said he was “ready to go,” although the Yankees will keep a close eye on him to make sure his stamina hasn’t been impacted by COVID.