There was some drama getting the ball to Gerrit Cole, but the ball and the season are now in his hands.

The Yankees’ ace was not available on three days rest, neither to start nor out of the bullpen, for an elimination game that Luis Gil endured for four innings in which he allowed four runs.

But the offense and bullpen compensated in an 11-4, Game 4 World Series victory in The Bronx that ensured a Game 5 on Wednesday, when Cole will be tasked with taking the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6.

It was curious that Cole was not an option for a do-or-die Game 5 in a decision that was made by the team and manager and not the player, according to Aaron Boone.

Cole has been handled carefully after an elbow scare cost him the first two and half months of the season.

“I think with what he’s gone through this year to get back and real things he dealt with — missing the first few months — I don’t think him on three days rest serves us well,” Boone said before the game. “We’ve got to win more than today.

“It wasn’t a consideration for me with what he’s had to go through and how well he’s done in working through this the back half of the year.”

For his part, Cole said he would pitch whenever the team wants him to pitch and said he was not a part of any conversation about pitching Game 4 after pitching Game 1.

Cole has come back on short rest once in his postseason career: Game 5 of the 2020 ALDS, when he pitched Games 1 and 5 against the Rays, the second on three days rest in which he pitched well (one run in 5 ¹/₃ innings) but in a loss.

This season has not been much like his first 11 big-league seasons.

“It’s been a different year for him than what he’s used to,” Boone acknowledged about a pitcher who avoided surgery but did not debut until June 19 this year because of nerve irritation and edema in his throwing elbow.

Cole was more solid than dominant through 17 regular-season starts in which he finished with a 3.41 ERA and maxed out at 106 pitches. He averaged just 90.2 pitches per outing, the Yankees cautious with Cole and Cole missing one turn through the rotation in late July with what was called general body fatigue.

The extra care has carried over into October, most notably in Game 1 in Los Angeles. Cole threw 88 pitches and had allowed just one run in six-plus innings when Boone pulled him in a game the Yankees lost in the 10th inning. According to Boone, he believed Cole was out of gas after a long at-bat against Teoscar Hernandez to begin the seventh.

When asked how he knew, Boone last week responded: “You just have to take my word for it.”

According to both manager and pitcher, Cole is physically fine and ready to go Wednesday.

“I feel great right now,” Cole said. “I’m available whenever the team wants me to pitch. There’s nothing preventing me from pitching if the team wants me to pitch.”