With the Pittsburgh Pirates’ playoff hopes fading fast, right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole will not pitch again in 2016.
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Cole Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tuesday, Sept. 13
Per Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune, the Pirates shut down Cole for the rest of the season.
The Pirates officially announced that Cole has been placed on the 60-day disabled list due to right elbow posterior inflammation.
Cole spoke about being shut down on Tuesday, per Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
This is yet another setback for Cole after he already went to the disabled list in August with elbow inflammation and dealt with a triceps injury in June that forced him to miss time.
Cole’s first start back from the elbow inflammation injury came on Monday against Philadelphia. He lasted just two innings and allowed four hits, four walks and five runs in a 6-2 loss.
Cole was an All-Star in 2015 and finished with a 2.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 208 innings. He helped lead the Pirates to the playoffs as the team’s clear-cut ace and was expected to assume the same duties in 2016.
Injuries and inconsistency have caused Cole’s performance to fall substantially this season with a 3.88 ERA, 131 hits allowed and 98 strikeouts in 116 innings.
Pittsburgh already traded Francisco Liriano and Jon Niese from its starting rotation this year, but it can turn to a handful of options following Cole’s latest injury.
Look for the Pirates to rely even more so on the likes of Ivan Nova, Ryan Vogelsong and Jameson Taillon. Taillon is a youngster who could eventually play the role of shutdown ace if he fulfills his potential.
Shutting down Cole now with the Pirates not likely to make the playoffs will help him be ready for the 2017 season.
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