Breaking down Gerrit Cole’s historic winning streak heading into World Series Game 1
By Luke Norris
September 2 @ Milwaukee Brewers
One day after Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays, Gerrit Cole followed it up with a terrific performance of his own but unfortunately didn’t factor into the decision. Cole gave up just three hits and one run, a solo homer to Yasmani Grandal on his seventh pitch of the game. After that, just one ball hit by Milwaukee left the infield. The other two hits were a bunt single and an infield single as the Brewers could barely touch Cole, who struck out 14 for the second consecutive game. He left the game after six innings with a 2-1 lead but the Brewers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game before the Astros won 3-2 in extras following a George Springer homerun in the top of the 10th. This would be the last no-decision of the year for Cole.
W/L: 15-5
ERA: 2.81
K: 266
September 8 vs. Seattle Mariners
Celebrating his 29th birthday on September 8, Gerrit Cole was once again on point in a rout of the Mariners. Sure, the Astros won 21-1 but they could have scored just a couple of runs and been just fine in what was Cole’s best outing of the entire season up to this point, which is saying something. The birthday boy gave up just one hit, a solo homer to rookie Shed Long in the fourth inning, and struck out 15 in eight innings and didn’t walk a soul. Not only did those 15 strikeouts give him a new career high, they also made him just the second pitcher in Major League history to strike out 14 or more batters in three consecutive games, joining Pedro Martinez in very exclusive company. He also tied a single-season ML record by recording his sixth game with 10 or more strikeouts and zero walks. That’s a birthday.
W/L: 16-5
ERA: 2.73
K: 281
September 13 @ Kansas City Royals
With the Houston offense struggling to score runs in the September 13 matchup with the Kansas City Royals, Gerrit Cole kept the Astros in the game, giving up just one run, an unearned run on four hits over eight innings while striking out 11, his sixth consecutive game in double digits. With the game tied 1-1 after eight, George Springer hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to give Houston a 4-1 lead and Roberto Osuna closed things out with his 33rd save of the season, giving Cole his 13th consecutive victory.
W/L: 17-5
ERA: 2.62
K: 292
September 18 vs. Texas Rangers
September 18 was a milestone day for the Houston Astros and Gerrit Cole. With a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers, Houston picked up their 100th victory, becoming just the sixth team in Major League history to hit the century mark in three consecutive seasons and also clinched a third consecutive postseason appearance in the process. As for Cole, he hit a milestone of his own with his eighth strikeout that night, becoming just the third pitcher in Astros history to hit the 300-strikeout mark, joining J.R. Richard (1979) and Mike Scott (1986). For those wondering, Nolan Ryan never got to 300 in Houston, coming closest in 1987 with 270. Cole struck out Shin Soo-Choo to close out the sixth to hit the mark and struck out two more before exiting after eight inning, having given up just two runs and six hits. He became the second-fastest in Major League history to get to 300, doing so in 198 2/3 innings. Only Randy Johnson in 2001 did it faster at 197 2/3.
W/L: 18-5
ERA: 2.61
K: 302
September 24 @ Seattle Mariners
It was another night of milestones on September 24 as the Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners, 3-0. Gerrit Cole was dominant once again, pitching seven scoreless innings of two-hit baseball and setting a couple of new records. His 14 strikeouts took him to 316 for the season, setting a new franchise record. He also set a new team record with his eighth consecutive game of 10 strikeouts or more, surpassing Justin Verlander, who set the mark in 2018. He also set a Major League record with his seventh game of the season with double-digit strikeouts and no walks. Clayton Kershaw, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling each had six in a season. He tied his career high in wins with 19 as the Astros moved 49 games above .500 for the first time in team history.
W/L: 19-5
ERA: 2.52
K: 316
September 29 @ Los Angeles Angels
Gerrit Cole’s final start of the regular season came on September 29, the final day of the regular season for everyone, against the Angels and it was a fitting end to an amazing run. Wanting to keep the pitch count down to rest a little for the playoffs, he only went five innings and threw 92 pitches but he still managed to strike out 10 and gave up just one run on four hits to notch win number 20. He finished the month 5-0 with a 1.07 ERA, which is just plain insanity. What’s crazy is that he would get even better in October.
W/L: 20-5
ERA: 2.50
K: 326