Gerrit Cole's Projections Against Astros Are Enticing

The New York Yankees are on the cusp of sweeping their three-game series with the Houston Astros and will have their ace on the mound to close the deal on Thursday. 

Gerrit Cole will face his former team as he looks to earn his fifth win of the 2021 season. After a sluggish start, the Yanks seem to have found their footing, and Cole has been as consistent as they come all season. That bodes well for his chances to take advantage of some pretty intriguing player props on WynnBET in today’s start.

WynnBET currently has Cole’s total strikeouts set for 8.5, with the over being the underdog at +105. This season, Cole has struck out 10 or more batters in four of his first six starts, and he has not struck out less than eight batters in a game this season.

Houston currently strikes out less than any other team in the league, as its offense averages just 7.37 strikeouts per game. However, the Astros have struck out 27 times over their past three games, including a 10 strikeout game against the Yankees on Tuesday. Something has to give, and we’re going to side with Cole, as he’s totaled 62 punchouts in 37.2 innings this season. 

In his six starts, Cole has also walked just three batters and hasn't walked a batter since April 12 against the Toronto Blue Jays. WynnBET has Cole’s over/under for walks set at 1.5, and the under is a +115 underdog.

The Astros walk just 2.8 times per game this season, which is the fifth-lowest total in baseball. Cole’s command has been on another level this season, and with the Astros’ lack of patience this seems to be shaping up as a game where he could continue his streak without allowing a free pass. 

There’s even more to consider in Cole’s start as well. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month in April after allowing just six earned runs in six games. WynnBET has his over/under for earned runs set at 1.5 on Thursday with the under (+110) being the underdog to the over (-150). Once again, Cole’s numbers this season back the under, as he’s allowed two earned runs in just two of his six starts. 

New York has held the Astros to three runs in each of the first two games of the series with lesser pitchers on the mound. It is very possible Cole continues to shut down Houston’s offense on Thursday.

New York is 10-4 since April 20 and has won five consecutive games to get to 16-14 on the season. In what has become one of the bigger rivalries in baseball, expect Cole and the Yankees to go for the jugular in the series finale.