Angels vs. Yankees Monday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Gerrit Cole returns from COVID list; Anthony Rizzo, Gary Sanchez not quite ready

Off a successful weekend in Chicago that saw the Yankees win back-to-back games against the AL Central-leading White Sox, the Bombers return home Monday for a makeup game against the Los Angeles Angels and will see the return of ace pitcher Gerrit Cole, once the AL Cy Young betting favorite, from the COVID-19 list. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and catcher Gary Sanchez are both near returning from that list as well but it won't happen Monday. The Yanks are heavy favorites at Caesars Sportsbook.

Pretty tough break for the Angels that they had to fly from Los Angeles on Monday just for this one game – makeup of a July 1 postponed matchup – and then get on another plane for Detroit to open a series there Tuesday. Road teams in these types of scenarios rarely win.

Cole (10-6), who is now the +325 second-favorite to win the AL Cy Young behind the White Sox's Lance Lynn (-200), hasn't pitched since a shockingly bad outing on July 29 at the Rays in which he was knocked around for eight runs over 5.1 innings in a loss. His season ERA rose from 2.74 to 3.11 – his first time over 3.00 since the season opener. Cole didn't face the Angels in the first series.

He said he had mild COVID symptoms and lost a bit of weight and thus might have a bit of a pitch count Monday: "I don't think we'll push the limits by any means because the recovery will be very important," Cole said on Sunday.

He is one of a whopping 19 Yankees on the injured or COVID list but obviously that will drop by one Monday. The Yankees have used 57 players this season, their second-highest total in franchise history (58 players in 2014). Both Rizzo and Sanchez could be back as soon as Tuesday.

The Angels will start Jose Suarez (5-5, 3.90). The lefty converted reliever has gotten a decision in eight straight outings, which is a tad rare. He pitched in the Bronx on June 28 and allowed one run and two hits over 5.1 innings in relief of Dylan Bundy and got the win.

AL MVP heavy favorite Shohei Ohtani (-1200) is one homer shy of being the first to 40 this season. He's 3-for-11 career off Cole but hasn't gone yard. Even though the Angels are below .500 overall, they are a terrific 20-9 in one-run games this season. New York is 19-12. 

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