Breaking down Gerrit Cole’s historic winning streak heading into World Series Game 1

June 2 @ Oakland A’s

For the second straight start, Gerrit Cole gave up just two runs in six innings, this time against the Oakland A’s, but wasn’t involved in the decision in this 12-inning affair. Cole threw 104 pitches in those six innings, giving up two solo home runs and four hits overall, but the offense for the Astros came a little too late for him to get the victory. Houston did win the game, 6-4, completing a three-game sweep, their second sweep of the A’s on the year. Cole didn’t have his best stuff on this Sunday, striking out a then season-low four batters, but he did enough to keep his team in the game.

W/L: 5-5  
ERA: 3.94
K: 116

June 7 vs. Baltimore Orioles

For the second consecutive start, Gerrit Cole did not factor in the decision in yet another extra-inning battle (their third of the week), this time an 11-inning win over the Baltimore Orioles. Cole was in great control, striking out 14 and giving up just one earned run (three overall) in seven solid innings, throwing a season-high 113 pitches before leaving the game to the bullpen. A second straight outing with nothing to show for the effort can be frustrating but the wins would start to pile up soon.

W/L: 5-5  
ERA: 3.72
K: 130

June 14 vs. Toronto Blue Jays

One of a few games during the streak where Cole may not have needed his best to get the win, he still gave another solid effort in a 15-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. With the offense giving him an early lead, scoring 10 runs in the first four innings, he refused to simply coast. He got into a bit of trouble in the first as Toronto loaded the bases but got out of the inning with a strikeout. He gave up just two runs in six innings and those two runs were actually part of a fun story. Cavan Biggio, the son of former Astros superstar Craig Biggio, hit a two-run double in the fifth to a standing ovation. Cole struck out 10 to extend his league-leading total to 140.

W/L: 6-5  
ERA: 3.67
K: 140

June 19 @ Cincinnati Reds

Gerrit Cole just can’t seem to beat the Cincinnati Reds. Even when he pitches well, as he did in this matchup at Great American Ball Park, he can’t catch a break. He threw six strong innings, giving up just one run, a solo homer to Yasiel Puig in the second, while striking out eight. Cole actually left the game with a 2-1 lead after the Astros scored two in the top of the sixth but the bullpen couldn’t hang on and gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to take a 3-2 loss. Cole didn’t factor in the decision but his record against the Reds is quite the anomaly. Between the Pirates and Astros, he is 1-8 against Cincinnati and his teams have lost 12 of 13 in games that he starts.

W/L: 6-5  
ERA: 3.54
K: 148

June 25 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

In his first game against his former team, Gerrit Cole picked up his seventh victory of the year in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 25, despite striking out a season-low three batters. His former teammates scattered seven hits over six innings but scored just one run as Cole helped Houston get their 50th win of the 2019 season. He admitted to being a little emotional playing against his former club but at the end of the day, he still had to go out and do his job and he did just that to win his third straight decision.

W/L: 7-5  
ERA: 3.42
K: 151

June 30 vs. Seattle Mariners

The June 30 battle against the Seattle didn’t begin as Gerrit Cole would have hoped but after giving up a first-inning, one-out homer to J.P. Crawford, he didn’t allow another Mariner to cross home plate the rest of the afternoon. Cole went another strong seven innings, throwing 109 pitches and giving up just the one run on five hits, tacking on another 10 strikeouts against just one walk to pick up his eighth win of the year. His 3-0 record, 1.89 ERA and 49 strikeouts earned him American League pitcher of the month honors.

W/L: 8-5  
ERA: 3.28
K: 161