If you guys followed the site today, you'll have noticed that Gerrit Cole snuck into the Top 25 on The List and he followed it up with a 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 7 Ks line against the Reds. Okay, so this might seem like I'm all for Cole here and if you own him I don't think I'm suggesting sell him, but let's have a chat. No emotion here, just some good old stats and bad jokes - you know, normal stuff. After this start, Cole is holding an 8.50 K/9 and 1.75 BB/9. Solid. IPS is at 6.0...I'll take it. xFIP is at 3.51, which is fine? I want something a little more encouraging, but once you knock out his first two outings where he totaled 8 ER, he becomes a bit more tantalizing. The main question I have had since the pre-season is how good his Slider is going to be. He's lost movement on the pitch both horizontally and vertically, but he's also increased its whiff rate to a career high 20.7% thus far and that should make you satisfied. If Cole has that slide piece going, then the rest follows. I still worry a little about the Fastball command, but for now I'm happy with what I'm seeing and keep riding this one out. Don't expect a Top 15 run this season, though I'd be shocked if he fell outside the Top 40.
Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:
