Gerrit Cole

Until we know about Gerrit Cole's elbow injury, it is difficult to know how early it is worth the risk to draft him. Cole made 33 starts last season, totaling 209.0 innings pitched and struck out 222 batters. However, his K/9 of 9.56 was the lowest in the last five seasons. He remained an elite ace, allowing 157 hits and 48 walks, with a home run total of 20, reflecting his ability to limit long balls, a critical factor in his success. The Yankees are giving us nothing to go on regarding how much time their ace is going to miss, leaving it up to fantasy managers to determine what their risk tolerance is. My personal tolerance stops at "pitcher with elbow issues." Proceed with caution.

Gerrit Cole Dominates Orioles in Commanding Win

Gerrit Cole delivered a masterful performance, allowing no earned runs on just two hits while striking out five over 6.2 innings in Thursday's 10-1 victory over the Orioles.

Fantasy Impact

This outing was a showcase of efficiency and control, as evidenced by his zero walks and only two hits allowed. Cole's season ERA now improves to an impressive 3.41, complemented by a solid 1.13 WHIP and a 9.4 K/9 rate. His ability to suppress runs while maintaining a high strikeout rate continues to make him a top-tier fantasy option. This performance should reassure fantasy managers of his reliability as a starting pitcher, especially considering his consistent strikeout abilities and control on the mound.