Yankees give encouraging Gerrit Cole update | Will ace return when eligible later this month? [Video]

NEW YORK — The Yankees’ starting rotation has done more than hold their own with ace Gerrit Cole on the injured list to begin the year.

Entering play on Friday night at Yankee Stadium — with the Detroit Tigers in town for a three-game weekend set — Yankees starters have the eighth-best ERA (3.48) in baseball. All five of the Yankees’ starters have an ERA ranging from 3.19 to 3.86 as of Friday afternoon.

Just because the calendar has flipped to May doesn’t mean it’s time to start bracing for Cole’s return to the top spot in that unit, though.

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That’s still a ways away.

Cole is eligible to return from the 60-day IL at the end of this month. Even as he prepares to take a significant step in his throwing program this weekend, an extended build-up is still looming.

The …