Gerrit Cole

Active

New York Yankees · Pitcher

Age 356' 4" · 220 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

At 35 years old, Cole remains a premium fantasy starter despite showing early-season inconsistency in 2026, with a 4.06 ERA and 1.22 WHIP through limited work. His Cy Young award and All-MLB honors from 2023 underscore his pedigree as an elite strikeout pitcher, though his current pace of 8.1 K/9 innings trails his 2024 production when he posted 99 strikeouts with a sharp 3.41 ERA over 95 innings. The key risk for fantasy managers is age-related decline and a potential innings limit, given his limited appearances so far this season, but if the Yankees give him consistent run support and he returns to form, his upside in strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP remains among the league's best. Monitor his workload and health closely, as Cole's ceiling is extremely high, yet his floor appears lower than in his peak seasons.

News Updates

Gerrit Cole picks up win despite weather delay
Gerrit Cole improved to 3-3 with a win against the Twins, allowing just two runs on five hits over five innings while striking out seven with no walks. The rain delay limited his outing, but Cole's performance helped the Yankees snap a losing streak with the 5-2 victory.
Jul 4, 2026

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2013	Pittsburgh Pirates	19	19	10	7	3.22	1.17	100	117.1	28
2014	Pittsburgh Pirates	22	22	11	5	3.65	1.21	138	138.0	40
2015	Pittsburgh Pirates	32	32	19	8	2.60	1.09	202	208.0	44
2016	Pittsburgh Pirates	21	21	7	10	3.88	1.44	98	116.0	36
2017	Pittsburgh Pirates	33	33	12	12	4.26	1.25	196	203.0	55
2018	Houston Astros	32	32	15	5	2.88	1.03	276	200.1	64
2019	Houston Astros	33	33	20	5	2.50	0.89	326	212.1	48
2020	New York Yankees	12	12	7	3	2.84	0.96	94	73.0	17
2021	New York Yankees	30	30	16	8	3.23	1.06	243	181.1	41
2022	New York Yankees	33	33	13	8	3.50	1.02	257	200.2	50
2023	New York Yankees	33	33	15	4	2.63	0.98	222	209.0	48
2024	New York Yankees	17	17	8	5	3.41	1.13	99	95.0	29
2026	New York Yankees	8	8	3	3	4.01	1.20	41	42.2	10
Career	Totals	325	325	156	83	3.20	1.09	2292	1996.2	510

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2012	2 teams▼	13	13	5	1	2.55	1.10	69	67.0	21
2013	Indianapolis Indians	12	12	5	3	2.91	1.06	47	68.0	28
2014	Indianapolis Indians	4	4	3	1	2.01	1.16	16	22.1	5
2016	Indianapolis Indians	2	2	0	0	0.00	0.50	12	8.0	0
2024	2 teams▼	3	3	0	0	0.73	0.49	19	12.1	0
2026	2 teams▼	3	3	0	1	4.80	0.80	14	15.0	2
Career	Totals	37	37	12	11	2.70	1.11	175	189.2	58

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo96.7 mph

Avg Spin2380 rpm

Whiff %17.9%

K %22.8%

BB %5.6%

Hard Hit %38.7%

Barrel %9.2%

xERA3.34

xBA Against0.233

xSLG Against0.367

BA Against0.246

SLG Against0.461

GB%33.3%

FB%33.3%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2013

Pittsburgh Pirates

3.22

1.17

100

117.1

2014

Pittsburgh Pirates

3.65

1.21

138

138.0

2015

Pittsburgh Pirates

2.60

1.09

202

208.0

2016

Pittsburgh Pirates

3.88

1.44

116.0

2017

Pittsburgh Pirates

4.26

1.25

196

203.0

2018

Houston Astros

2.88

1.03

276

200.1

2019

Houston Astros

2.50

0.89

326

212.1

2020

New York Yankees

2.84

0.96

73.0

2021

New York Yankees

3.23

1.06

243

181.1

2022

New York Yankees

3.50

1.02

257

200.2

2023

New York Yankees

2.63

0.98

222

209.0

2024

New York Yankees

3.41

1.13

95.0

2026

New York Yankees

4.01

1.20

42.2

Career

Totals

325

156

3.20

1.09

2292

1996.2

510

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2012

2 teams▼

2.55

1.10

67.0

2013

Indianapolis Indians

2.91

1.06

68.0

2014

Indianapolis Indians

2.01

1.16

22.1

2016

Indianapolis Indians

0.00

0.50

8.0

2024

2 teams▼

0.73

0.49

12.1

2026

2 teams▼

4.80

0.80

15.0

Career

Totals

2.70

1.11

175

189.2