RADIO
Gerrit Cole Hopes To Bounce Back Pitching For World Series Champs
7 years agoHouston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole will not be tasked to anchor a rotation like he had to in Pittsburgh now that he joins a rotation featuring Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers. Cole was acquired via trade in the offseason and is only two years removed from going 19-8 with 2.60 ERA and 202 strikeouts. But his numbers have been on a decline ever since and Cole put up a 12-12 record with a 4.26 ERA and allowed a career-high 31 home runs last season. Cole still has the stuff to be considered a top of the rotation starter but he is a buyer beware candidate in 2018. Pitchers that typically make the switch from the National League to the American League have historically struggled and their numbers, especially in ERA, take a hit. Cole will also have to cut down on his home runs allowed and lower his 1.34 WHIP he has averaged over the last two seasons. Run support should not be an issue and Cole could win anywhere between 10-14 games. But the jury is out whether he can return to the form of 2016 and will come with some risk even if taken in the later rounds of drafts.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
