(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had a phenomenal start to close out his season and his AL Cy Young bid.
On Wednesday, he completely dominated a playoff contender, the Toronto Blue Jays, tossing a complete-game shutout.
If there were any doubts that Cole should win the Cy Young, they were dissipated on Wednesday.
He methodically retired hitter after hitter of a team hungry for a victory, and conceded just two hits en route to the shutout.
He struck out five hitters and brought down his ERA to 2.63.
Perhaps Cole’s most impressive stat is this one: he has surrendered two runs or fewer in 26 of his 33 starts.
That’s an amazing ratio.
When we consider the total amount of starts with two runs or fewer, Cole earned a place in Yankees history this year.
“Yankees Most Starts 2 R or fewer allowed in a season: 1904 Jack Chesbro 28, 2023 Gerrit Cole 26, 1978 Ron Guidry 26,” stats expert Katie Sharp tweeted.
Yankees Most Starts 2 R or fewer allowed in a season:
1904 Jack Chesbro 282023 Gerrit Cole 261978 Ron Guidry 26
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) September 28, 2023
He tied the “Louisiana Lightning”, Guidry, with 26 such starts in second place in Yankees history.
First place is held by Jack Chesbro, but it’s important to note baseball was much different when he had 28 outings of two or fewer runs conceded in 1904.
For starters, the team wasn’t even called the Yankees: they were the New York Highlanders.
Secondly, Chesbro needed 51 starts to get his 28; and he completed 48 games.
Not to take anything away from a Hall of Famer like Chesbro: baseball was just not the same during those days.
Cole will likely receive his first AL Cy Young award in a few weeks, a deserved recognition for one of the best pitchers in the game right now.
The post Gerrit Cole Made Serious Yankees History In 2023 appeared first on The Cold Wire.
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