Houston Astros: Top three batters and pitchers so far

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ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros pitches during the second inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on May 15, 2018, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

2. Gerrit Cole

Ho. Lee. Cow. Cole has been a million times better than any expectation I had after the team acquired him this offseason. He was supposed to come in and be a good third arm on a good rotation. However, he’s been a top two arm not just on this team, but in the league.

Cole is a career 3.37 ERA pitcher that averages 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Pretty good numbers. However, he’s blown both of those out of the water this year. Currently, nine starts in, he sits at a 1.75 ERA and 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Simply outstanding.

Even better, Cole’s FIP sits at 1.95. Which means that even though he has been helped out a little by his fielders, he has been pitching at a historic level. His WHIP also sits at a great level at 0.79.

Cole is in Cy Young conversations without a doubt, it’ll take an extreme fall out for him to not be in those conversations all year. We knew Cole had ace potential, maybe even Cy Young potential. No one thought he’d be this great. If it weren’t for a teammate of his, he’d be the sole talk of the league. More on that teammate now…

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