Getty Images
The first step in the Yankees’ second-half redemption plan after an 8-18 stretch is to get more from their ace.
Gerrit Cole’s return from rehab in that time has made for a 5.40 ERA — the highest mark he’s held through the first five starts of any season in his career.
A lot of that can be attributed to him walking more than three percent more hitters than last year, leading to a 1.46 WHIP.
Cole has allowed quality contact: 1.93 homers per nine innings and a career-high .328 average on balls hit in play.
The Over on his strikeouts prop against the Rays on Friday has added value because despite these troubles, Cole is still sitting more than10 hitters per nine innings.
The Rays are a top-10 team in most strikeouts because they make zone contact at one of the sparsest rates in the game.
They also chase pitches outside the zone (tied for fifth-highest percentage in MLB).
Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting
- Read about the Best Baseball Betting Sites
- Learn all about How to Bet on Baseball
- Get the latest World Series Odds
Cole has cleared the 5.5 line in three straight starts.
He’s drawing the exact same amount of whiffs with his fastball as 2023 with similar velocity, so getting the Rays to swing should not be difficult.
THE PLAY: Gerrit Cole Over 6.5 strikeouts (-150, FanDuel)