Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole has been referred to as a gamer, a hard thrower and recently an ace, however now he can add another title to the list.
Major League Baseball has named Cole as the National League Pitcher of the Month and in receiving this honor, Cole is the first Pirate to be named pitcher of the month since Randy Tomlin [June 1992].
Cole has started his 2015 season with a 4-0 record in five starts and has posted a 1.76 ERA. Cole allowed six earned runs in April and has surrendered 22 hits in 30.2 innings of work.
After Francisco Liriano was placed on the bereavement list, Cole was elevated to the top position on the Pirates pitching staff. Cole’s strikeouts-per-nine rate is 10.3 after one month of the season, an increase from 2014’s 9.0 mark which was a career high. Also at a career low thus far in the season is Cole’s WHIP [0.978], hits-per-nine [6.5], homers-per-nine [0.3], wins above average [0.6], batting average against [.198], OPS [.502] and additionally his strikeouts-walk ratio is at a career high mark of 4.38.
This season Cole has allowed 2.35 runs-per-nine innings. Statistically, Cole is five runs better than average and thus far in the season has a WAR of 0.8.
Cole’s four wins are second best in the National League and his 1.76 ERA is fifth best. Cole also has a FIP of 2.15 which places him fourth. Though Cole’s pitches-per-plate-appearance is at a career high 4.01 his pitches-per-inning are slightly down at 15.8. Cole has accomplished all of this while throwing 97 pitches-per-game which is 2.9 pitches fewer than his 2014 mark. In the month of April, Cole was ahead of hitters 74 percent of the time.
This season Cole has used his slider at a career high rate of 23.03 percent. This compliments his fastball which he uses nearly 52 percent of the time. Cole also will use his sinker which is used 19 percent of the time. Cole has subtracted velocity from all three of these pitches as well. Manager Clint Hurdle has marveled on occasion at how Cole has thrown harder at the end of his outing as opposed to the first couple of innings.
Dallas Keuchel received the award on the American League side. The Houston Astros are leading the American League West and are currently on a 10-game winning streak. Keuchel was 3-0 with a 0.73 ERA in April.
Cole’s next scheduled start is Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Photo courtesy: AP
