​NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole walked into the Yankees clubhouse on Friday afternoon wearing a dark brown polo shirt with a matching Tom Ford belt and sharp white dress pants. This was a statement game, and even before suiting up in the Yankees pinstripes, Cole was dressed for the occasion. He was locked in, ready to dominate. The fit was part of the mentality. Just like the iconic character Proposition Joe said on HBO’s hit show, "The Wire": "Look the part, be the part." Cole did just that in his season debut. The Yankees were thrilled to see their longtime ace and the unanimous 2023 Cy Young award winner return to the mound on Friday night in the Bronx against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole held the division rivals to only two hits over six scoreless innings. He permitted three walks and struck out two batters, not seeing as much swing-and-miss likely because the Rays have the lowest strikeout rate in the major leagues. He dialed up his four-seam fastball to 99 mph in the first inning, proving his arm was all the way back. He was efficient, throwing just three pitches in the fourth inning. He pounded the strike zone and picked a runner off second base, hyper-alert and quick on his feet for, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone put it, "The game within the game." He did all that against a feisty Rays offense that owns the highest batting average and on-base percentage in the American League. Reminding everyone in the ballpark that Cole was making this look easier than it actually was, Boone pulled him after 72 pitches. That was the plan all along. It was just a tease. "It was almost like a second debut kind of situation," Cole said, unable to stop grinning. "It was an enjoyable moment. It was nice to get back in the fire." Cole was Cole. It was the Yankees offense that let him down in front of 41,358 fans who were living and dying on every pitch. New York’s bats failed to cash in when they created traffic on the basepaths. The Yankees went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base en route to a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay. It was their third consecutive loss and 10th in their last 14 games. "With what we’re going through, you hate losing a game," Boone said. "Hopefully the silver lining is that I felt like the guys had good at-bats tonight and were on stuff. We need to carry that forward now and have the ability to break through." The other silver living was how seamlessly Cole picked up where he left off. It was hard to believe it was his first start in 569 days. Cole agreed, saying: "At some point tonight, it was almost like I never left." His last start was in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers; he threw six innings in a no-decision. After spending one year and two months rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Cole is 35 years old now. Aside from his age and surgically-repaired right elbow, things have changed since the last time Cole pitched. For one, he debuted his new windup on Friday — a different, over-the-head motion similar to Max Scherzer and other old-school veterans in the game — that he adopted during his extensive rehab process. The right-hander was also sporting a beard for the first time in his seven-year Yankee career. Cole was on the injured list when Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner nixed their 49-year no-facial hair policy last year. So, Friday was the start of a new era in more ways than one for New York’s ace. For another, Cole’s season debut against the Rays was the first time he pitched under Major League Baseball’s new Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system that launched this year. "My mindset going into it was not to worry about it," Cole said. "And just assume everything's a ball." Towards the end of his rehab, Cole emphasized throwing in the zone so that he could be better prepared for ABS. It was one of several final boxes he checked off for himself before receiving the green light to wear the pinstripes again. Some of the other variables included his recovery, pitch quality, sequencing, conditioning, and good stamina overall. "It's funny, it's like you almost take an extra day here early, an extra week here early, and then you think, 'Oh, this is never gonna end,’" Cole said of his rehab progression. "But then you end up showing up right on time. So it's funny how it works out that way, because it didn't feel very quick, yet it's been very efficient and optimal." The Yankees actually moved Cole’s season debut up to Friday after initially believing he would need at least one more rehab start before rejoining the team. But after his pitch count reached the 80-plus range and he touched 99 mph in his final rehab outing on May 16, plans changed. Cole told the team that he was ready to take the next step, and the Yankees said welcome back. "I expected to do well," Cole said of how he managed the immense Tommy John rehab workload. "I didn't really hit any significant snags, so you put a lot of hard work in and execute along the way, and this is where it takes you." It just so happened that the Yankees also needed Cole to return as quickly as possible after southpaw Max Fried hit the injured list with a bone bruise in his left elbow last week. That was a huge blow to the Yankees rotation, a strong staff that ranked top five in the majors with a 3.22 ERA even before Cole’s return. As much as the Yankees hope Cole’s dominance in his first outing back from Tommy John means their starting pitching won’t miss a step without Fried, the team will also be extremely careful with his build-up in the early goings. "I feel like that was a smart play," Cole said of exiting Friday's season debut after six scoreless innings. "It may seem easy, but it was a high-pressure, tough game." Which is why it wasn’t all that surprising that Boone pulled Cole when he was in a groove on Friday night. The packed house at Yankee Stadium was let down when fans saw the bullpen doors swing open in the seventh inning, rather than No. 45 jogging out to the mound for one more frame. But just imagine if Cole’s excellent outing was wasted on another rehab start with Triple-A Scranton? The way the Yankees ace pitched on Friday night, every fifth game is going to be must-see television for the remainder of the season, and if the worst is behind him, for the remainder of his career. Before his debut, Cole said he was most looking forward to pitching in games that matter again. Asked to describe what it felt like to settle in and once again be the conductor of that intense and competitive environment, Cole had just one word to describe his night. "Lovely," he said, smiling ear to ear. Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar. Read More

​Week 9 of the UFL season got off to a fast start on Friday night, as the Orlando Storm won their third straight game, defeating the DC Defenders, 27-19. Here are the results from Week 9: Orlando Storm 27, DC Defenders 19 Key players: Storm QB Jack Plummer (21-of-27 for 275 passing yards, three touchdowns), WR Chris Rowland (eight receptions for 117 yards, one touchdown); Defenders QB Spencer Sanders (10-of-21 for 160 passing yards), RB Deon Jackson (eight carries for 64 yards, one touchdown) Game recap: It was a hot start for the Storm, who found the end zone within the first four minutes to take a 7-0 lead. Orlando kept the momentum rolling, as quarterback Jack Plummer threw a pair of first-half touchdowns to give the Storm a 21-10 halftime advantage. Wide receiver Chris Rowland also shined, finishing the night with eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. The Defenders struggled in their first game without star quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8. Quarterback Spencer Sanders could not ignite the offense, completing just 10 of 21 passes for 160 yards. However, Sanders did add 75 yards on the ground, while running back Deon Jackson carried the ball eight times for 64 yards and a touchdown. The Defenders will now look for revenge when they host the Storm in a Week 10 rematch. Up next: The Storm travel to Washington, D.C. for a Week 10 rematch against the Defenders. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The Polymarket promo code FOX gets new users a $50 trading bonus on a $20 deposit, available now on the world's largest prediction market platform. Polymarket has processed over $10 billion in total trading volume and is now fully available to U.S. users on iOS, with Android availability continuing to expand, regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and legal in 49 states plus Washington, D.C. Download the app, enter code FOX at sign-up, and deposit $20 to claim your $50 trading bonus. Polymarket Promo Code FOX: Deposit $20, Get $50 Trading Bonus Enter promo code FOX during account registration in the Polymarket mobile app to qualify for the deposit $20, get $50 trading bonus. The code must be entered before completing sign-up and cannot be applied to an existing account. 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For regulated sportsbook options available in your state, visit the sportsbook promos page at FOX Sports for current welcome offers from FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and other legal operators. Responsible Gambling Trading on prediction markets should always be approached as entertainment. If it stops feeling that way, free, confidential support is available around the clock from these organizations: Polymarket Promo Code FAQs What is the Polymarket promo code? The current Polymarket promo code is FOX. Enter it at sign-up in the promo code field to receive a $50 trading bonus after depositing $20 or more. The bonus is available to new users in eligible states and is credited automatically after the qualifying deposit. What is the Polymarket invite code? The Polymarket invite code FOX works the same as the promo code. Polymarket uses the terms promo code, invite code, and referral code interchangeably for the sign-up bonus code. Entering FOX during registration gives you the deposit $20, get $50 trading bonus in eligible states. What is the Polymarket referral code? The Polymarket referral code FOX is the code for FOX Sports users claiming the new user trading bonus. It functions identically to the promo code and invite code. Enter FOX at the point of sign-up before completing account creation to qualify for the $50 bonus on a $20 deposit. Is Polymarket the same as a sportsbook? No. Polymarket is a prediction market, not a sportsbook. Rather than placing a bet against a house with margin built into the line, you buy and sell shares in event outcomes directly with other users. Prices are set entirely by supply and demand among traders, and Polymarket does not take a position on any outcome. The platform is regulated by the CFTC under federal commodity law, not a state gaming commission. Where is Polymarket available? Polymarket is available to U.S. users aged 18 and older in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Nevada is currently the only state where the platform is not available. The $50 trading bonus with code FOX is additionally unavailable in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV, and OH. How do I deposit money on Polymarket? You can fund a Polymarket account with a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer through the Moonpay integration built into the app. No cryptocurrency wallet is required. Account balances are held in USDC, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, and the conversion from dollars to USDC happens automatically at deposit. Can I enter the Polymarket promo code after creating my account? No. The promo code FOX must be entered during the registration process and cannot be applied to an existing account retroactively. Make sure to enter the code before completing sign-up to unlock the $50 trading bonus on a $20 deposit. Read More

​Richard Childress Racing won't race the No. 8 again. At least not until Kyle Busch's son, Brexton, wants to use it. The two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch, 41, died suddenly Thursday, and RCR will renumber the No. 8 car to the No. 33. "Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8, and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry," RCR said in a statement. "No one can carry it forward to the level that he did. The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing." Brexton Busch, 11, is an aspiring NASCAR driver, and Kyle had hoped to race against him in NASCAR's truck series when he became eligible to return to some tracks at age 16. When RCR driver Dale Earnhardt died in 2001, RCR suspended its use of the No. 3 car until Childress' grandson, Austin Dillon, began using it in his career, including his first Cup season in 2014. NASCAR assigns numbers on an annual basis, but NASCAR typically allows organizations to ask for a number even if they do not intend to use it under special circumstances. NASCAR's current rules state that a Cup driver must be 18 years old. Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Cup car this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 33 is what RCR has used for its part-time Cup car in recent seasons. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. New users on Kalshi can receive a $10 trade bonus when they use promo code FOXSPORTS as the series shifts to San Antonio tied 1-1. Oklahoma City Thunder responded to their first postseason loss behind a dominant 30-point night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 2. Tonight in Game 3 creates a completely different challenge for Oklahoma City, which enters as an underdog for the first time this postseason. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs now have home-court momentum with a chance to swing the series back in their favor. New users can click here to claim a $10 trade bonus with Kalshi's promo code FOXSPORTS before tonight’s Western Conference Finals Game 3 tips off. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus Kalshi Odds *Odds/Probability are subject to change* WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS No. 2 SAN ANTONIO (+135) vs. No. 1 OKLAHOMA CITY (-160) Tied 1-1 What to know: Wow. Talk about a start to a series. The Spurs and Thunder took the floor for Game 1, and the two teams didn't leave until they completed a double-overtime masterpiece. It was OKC's first loss of the postseason after it swept through the first two rounds. Game 2 was a thriller in its own right, with OKC evening things at a game apiece. Heading into Game 3, the Thunder are underdogs for the first time this postseason. San Antonio Spurs – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: The Spurs couldn't get in done in Game 2 and now the series heads to San Antonio tied 1-1. Stephon Castle has continued to control the pace offensively, but the Spurs will need more consistent defense after allowing 110+ points in both games against the Thunder. Oklahoma City Thunder – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander responded with a 30-point performance in Game 2 after losing Game 1 in double overtime. The Thunder offense continues to generate high-scoring performances despite the defensive prowess of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Read More