45 Gerrit Cole SP

Cole (2-1) held the Angels to just two runs on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts through seven innings Monday night but was stuck with his first loss.

For the fifth time in a row, Cole completed the seventh, and he has still yet to allow more than two runs or five hits in a start. This, though, marked the first time the Astros failed to support him well enough to at least leave him with a no-decision. Cole induced 14 swinging strikeouts in 109 pitches as he increased his strikeout total to just 49 over 35 innings of work. His 1.28 ERA is supported by a fantastic 6.1 K/BB.

Cole (2-0) allowed just one unearned run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts through seven innings to pick up the win Wednesday over the Mariners.

For the first time all season, Cole didn't reach double-digit strikeouts, but it didn't stop him from going seven strong innings for the fourth time in a row. Cole has also yet to allow more than five hits or two runs in any start. The 27-year-old is looking like a steal of an acquisition for the Astros, as he has delivered nothing but ace-level performances to start his Houston career.

Cole (1-0) had to settle for a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out a career-high 14.

That's now three straight games with double-digit strikeouts to begin the season for Cole, who seems reborn in Houston. Cy Young Awards aren't won or lost in April, but a 36:4 K:BB through 21 innings is putting the 27-year-old on a very impressive trajectory. Cole will make his next start Wednesday in Seattle.

Cole struck out 11 and allowed five hits and walked none over seven scoreless innings against the Padres on Saturday.

In his season debut on April 1, Cole changed his pitch mix by moving away from his two-seam fastball in favor of heavier slider usage. That continued in his start Saturday, with excellent results as he got nearly a 17 percent whiff rate on 24 sliders thrown. He has looked absolutely dominant in his first two starts as a member of the Astros and it appears that his change in pitch mix is here to stay.

Cole struck out 11 and allowed just one run on two hits and three walks over seven innings to earn the win Sunday against the Rangers.

Cole was absolutely filthy in his first start as an Astro, as he used 21 swinging strikes to rack up those 11 strikeouts. As a Pirate in 2017, Cole reached double-digit strikeouts just twice and didn't strike out 11 batters in any of his 31 starts. Cole looks like he's in great form to start his Astros career, and at his best, he has been an ace-level pitcher. He's currently slotted fourth in Houston's rotation, truly an embarrassment of riches.