New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs: Gerrit Cole vs. Edward Cabrera

There’s very “last day of school” vibes around today, with the final spring exhibition before Opening Day tomorrow, wrapping up this two-game set with the Cubs from Arizona. After a one-inning, 10-pitch spring debut last week, Gerrit Cole will get the ball ahead of a likely rehab assignment to try and tune up for a May or June return. His outing last week against the Red Sox saw his fastball riding upper 90s with a slider at 91 mph, but I wonder if today will be more of a focus on control and command.

We know that his arm can tolerate the velo, and that’s important, but Cole’s always been a tremendous mix of velocity and command, the latter of which is usually harder to build up after a procedure like Tommy John. Edward Cabrera meanwhile is the shiny new toy for the Cubs, acquired from the Marlins in exchange for a prospect package led by Owen Caissie over the winter. The Yankees reportedly had no interest in the toolsy right-hander, who posted a 3.

53 ERA in 137. 2 innings in 2025. He features one of the best curveballs and changeups in baseball, but one of the very worst fastballs around.

Unlocking that fastball is the difference between Cabrera being a five-win pitcher and a three-win pitcher, and the biggest challenge for Chicago in getting the most bang for their trade buck. There’s more Opening Day starters in the lineup than I figured with just over 28 hours before the season starts, with Ben Rice leading us off, Jazz Chisholm Jr. batting and playing second, while Ryan McMahon and José Caballero man the left side of the infield.