The physical condition of Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees), who is at the forefront in the competitive structure of the major league American League championship, challenged by Ryu Hyun-jin (Toronto Blue Jays) is emerging as the biggest variable.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole went down from the mound after starting against Toronto on the 8th and conceding two runs in 3⅔ innings.

It was not an early replacement due to his sluggishness.Cole felt a hamstring injury while pitching, and the Yankees made the decision to substitute to protect the player.

Cole's condition does not appear to be serious.

According to local media in New York, including the New York Post on the 9th, Cole completed the procedure for checking his physical condition, such as running lightly on a treadmill.There are no plans to conduct detailed examinations such as MRI scans.

The Yankees plan to wait a day or two before making a decision on whether or not Cole will appear next.

who has the highest ransom ($36 million) among active pitchers, is at the top of the American League's multiple wins division with a 14-7 record ERA of 2.78 this season.Ryu Hyun-Jin follows Cole with 13 wins (8 losses).

Ryu Hyun-jin broke the chain of two consecutive defeats by playing 6 innings without a score in the away game against the Yankees on the 7th and added a win in three games.

He had only 80 pitches. He was replaced early as a protection measure due to an abnormality in his left arm, but it is known that he is in good condition.

Ryu Hyun-jin is expected to perform the next appearance schedule as scheduled. Ryu Hyun-Jin will appear in an away game against the Baltimore Orioles on the 12th and aim for a joint lead in the multi-win division.

Cole's next appearance is yet to be determined. He does not appear to be on the injured list. He can start normally for games scheduled for next week and there is a chance he'll miss a rotation.

The Yankees can't afford it right now. With 2 wins and 9 losses in their last 11 matches, they are in a situation where they cannot rest assured that they will advance to the postseason.

In the American League, the top teams in the Eastern, Central, and Western divisions go straight to the Fall Baseball, and the two best teams from the rest of the clubs advance to the postseason as wildcards.

The Yankees were the undisputed lead in the wildcard race, but their recent sluggishness gave them the first place spot to the Boston Red Sox.

Boston is 80-62 and the Yankees are 78-61.

In the calm American League wildcard race, there is one team that emerges as the core of a typhoon. Ryu Hyun-jin's team is Toronto.

Toronto beat the Yankees 6-3 on the 9th and went on to a seven-game winning streak. He took the first three games in a four-week match against the Yankees, and greatly reduced his riding.

The gap between Toronto, the wildcard second-placed Yankees, who raised their season record to 76-62, has now narrowed to 1.5 games. If Toronto win the match on the 10th and increase their winning streak to eight games, the gap between the two teams will be 0.5 games.

The postseason competition between Toronto and the Yankees, as well as the many-win competition between the major pitchers representing both teams, is close.