Gerrit Cole is nine starts into his young career and he has yet to disappoint.
Analysis: Through nine starts Cole has put up a 3.56 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Cole’s 1.13 WHIP is better than some of the bigger names out there like Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, RA Dickey and Cole Hamels. His 3.65 xFIP certainly indicates that his numbers are the real deal. He is getting by throwing his fastball 70% of the time which is 18th highest in baseball(min 50 IP). Cole’s average fastball velocity is 95.9 MPH which is 3rd highest in the bigs(min 50 IP) but his change and slider are plus pitches as well.
Gerrit Cole is currently available in 15-40% of fantasy leagues. His ERA and WHIP may bump up a bit but they will certainly be an asset in roto leagues. His strikeout rate is only 5.9 K/9 IP but it is still respectable and projected to increase. Keep in mind that Cole has yet to give up more than three earned runs or three walks in all nine of his starts this year. The future is bright for the twenty-two year old and it’s time for everyone to start showing Gerrit Cole some love.