Gerrit Cole has shown signs of regaining his pre-surgery form as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, delivering strong performances for the New York Yankees in July. The right-handed pitcher posted a 2.97 earned run average (ERA) over 30 1/3 innings last month, recording 39 strikeouts while issuing just four walks. His strikeout numbers have been particularly impressive, with at least seven strikeouts in four out of five starts, including an 11-strikeout outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 22. He concluded the month by pitching six scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox.

The Yankees have been gradually increasing Cole’s workload since his return, initially limiting his pitch counts to protect his arm. However, in his most recent appearances, Cole has consistently thrown high pitch counts, reaching 99 pitches in his latest outing and surpassing 93 pitches in four straight starts.

This trend toward greater trust in Cole’s durability comes as he faces a challenging matchup against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Cubs entered Saturday’s game second in Major League Baseball in runs per game and third in weighted runs created plus (wRC+), indicating a potent offense. While Chicago’s ability to prevent runs is strong, their strikeout rate remains around the league median.

Cole has maintained a high strikeout rate over his past four starts, accumulating 33 strikeouts—averaging more than eight per game. Although pitching against a powerful lineup in a hitter-friendly ballpark like Wrigley Field always carries some risk, Cole’s increasing pitch counts and striking ability suggest he is regaining his pre-surgery effectiveness.