AP Sports Preview PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch scheduled for 80 degrees and clear skies. Cole (1-4 in his last five starts) takes the mound for the Yankees (58-44) seeking to reverse a string of tough-luck outings. The right-hander allowed three earned runs over seven innings with 11 strikeouts in a no-decision Wednesday against Pittsburgh, a game the Yankees won 2-0 in 10 innings. In his previous four starts, Cole surrendered three earned runs or fewer each time but received just one win. Philadelphia (56-47) counters with an offense led by third baseman Alec Bohm, who is 7 for 20 with two home runs over his last five games. Bohm homered and drove in three runs Wednesday in a 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees enter having won four of their last five, including a sweep of a two-game set against the Pirates. New York took two of three from Los Angeles before that. The Phillies have dropped four of six, losing two of three to the Dodgers. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-5 Yankees victory. New York is installed as a -1.5 favorite, with the over/under set at 8. These teams are jockeying for position in their respective divisions. The Yankees sit second in the AL East, while the Phillies are third in the NL East. The three-game series continues Saturday and Sunday before both clubs hit the road. New York travels to Chicago for four games against the White Sox, while Philadelphia heads to Miami for three against the Marlins. Bohm’s recent production at the plate could prove pivotal against Cole, who has allowed 15 earned runs over 29 2/3 innings in his last five outings while striking out 37. The Yankees’ bullpen has been sharp, with Brent Headrick striking out three in a perfect inning Wednesday.