Yankees: Even without Gerrit Cole, the Yankees built the best record in the majors through 75 games this season. Now their No. 1 starter is back — and eager to pitch in. Returning to the mound from an elbow injury, Cole was charged with two runs over four-plus innings Wednesday night against the rival Orioles in his long-awaited 2024 debut. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner got a no-decision as the Yankees lost 7-6 in 10 innings. The Orioles routed the Yankees 17-5 in the third and finale game of the series on Thursday. “It was kind of a special game for me a little bit,” Cole said of Wednesday night. “It’s just been a long few months, a lot of emotions.” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Cole was on a limit of 65 pitches. He was pulled after 62, when he gave up Cedric Mullins’ leadoff single in the fifth. “I thought he got better as he went,” Boone said. “I thought he was under control and I thought as the outing went on, he got a little bit better, and had a little bit of everything. ... So all in all, I thought he threw the ball well.” Cole said he felt “a fair amount of adrenaline.” The 33-year-old right-hander permitted three hits, struck out five and walked one. He was on the hook for his first loss since Aug. 19 last year until the Yankees erased a 5-1 deficit and tied it in the ninth. Cole made three minor league rehab starts after recovering from nerve inflammation and edema in his elbow that had sidelined him since spring training.

Dodgers: Three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw took another step in his comeback from left shoulder surgery, throwing three innings in his first rehab start. The 36-year-old left-hander allowed one run and two hits, struck out five and walked one on a pitch-clock violation at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday night. He threw 37 pitches in front of a sellout crowd at LoanMart Field. “I checked all the boxes,” Kershaw said. “It was fun to get back out there. As long as everything comes out fine, I think I’m on for the next one. Stuff’s OK. It’s getting better, so hopeful that over time you start working more on pitching and less about health and get ready to go.” Kershaw’s pitches registered mostly 88-90 mph. He’s expected to make a few more rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers. Kershaw underwent surgery in November, a month after his disastrous start in Game 1 of the NLDS vs. the Diamondbacks in which he left having gotten just one out. ... Shohei Ohtani led off the game with his 21st HR of the season, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back HRs in the fourth, and the Dodgers beat the host Rockies 5-3 on Thursday. Ohtani’s HR was his fourth in five games. Smith and Freeman each hit their 11th this season to help the Dodgers take three of four from the Rockies. Ohtani is 8 for 18 with two HRs, three doubles and six RBIs in four games as the leadoff hitter.

Guardians: Andrés Giménez hit a two-run HR and Will Brennan had a pair of solo shots, lifting the AL Central-leading Guardians to a 6-3 home win against the AL West-leading Mariners. Logan Allen (8-3) pitched six innings, giving up three runs, in winning his second straight start.