Is married to Amy...Pitched three seasons at UCLA (2009-11), going 21-20 with five complete games and a 3.38 ERA (322.1IP, 252H, 143R/121ER, 114BB, 376K, 22HR) in 50 appearances (49 starts)...finished his career at UCLA ranked second in strikeouts, third in starts and fifth in innings pitched...was the first pitcher in school history to record three 100-strikeout seasons…in 2009, earned Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball…in 2010, was a consensus All-American, landing on the Collegiate Baseball second team and the Baseball America and NCBWA third team…finished third in the nation with 153K...Pitched for the USA Collegiate National Team in 2009 and 2010, combining to go 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA (59.0IP, 6ER) and 69K in 11 games (nine starts)...tossed 7.0 scoreless innings Team USA's loss to Cuba in the Gold Medal Game of the 2010 FISU World University Baseball Championships...was rated the No. 1 prospect on the team in both years by Baseball America...Is a 2008 graduate of Orange Lutheran (Calif.) H.S...as a senior, went 8-2 with a 0.47 ERA (75.2IP, 4ER) in 13 games (12 starts) and 121K while hitting .310 with 7HR and 25RBI…was named to the 2008 USA Today All-USA High School First Team, the EA Sports All-America First Team and Baseball America All-America Second Team… was selected as an AFLAC All-American as a junior in 2007…following his senior season, was rated as the top high school prospect in his class by Perfect Game Crosschecker, and the No. 17 prospect by Baseball America (No.4 prep prospect)...was selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign...Wife, Amy, is the younger sister of multiple-time NL All-Star SS Brandon Crawford, currently of the San Francisco Giants…both Crawford (2006-08) and Cole (2009-11) played at UCLA.
2019
In his second year with Houston, finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting after going 20-5 with an AL-best 2.50 ERA (212.1IP, 142H, 66R/59ER, 48BB, 326K, 29HR) in 33 starts..set career highs in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts...posted a 2.64 FIP (FanGraphs)...opponents hit .186 (142-for-762, 29HR); LH .175 (67-for-383, 17HR); RH .198 (75-for-379, 12HR)...Led Major League pitchers in strikeouts, K/9.0IP ratio (13.82), strikeout rate (39.9%) and WAR (7.4, FanGraphs), while ranking second in wins and WHIP (0.89) and fourth in innings..led the AL in ERA and opponent OPS (.579) and ranked second in opponents' BA...Was one of five pitchers named to the inaugural All-MLB First Team...Was named to his third All-Star team, but did not pitch in the AL's 4-3 win in Cleveland...His 326K were an Astros single-season record and the 14th-highest total in Baseball's Modern Era (since 1900)..was just the sixth pitcher in that span to reach the mark, joining Randy Johnson (5x), Nolan Ryan (5x), Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax and Rube Waddell..marked the Majors' highest strikeout total since Arizona's Randy Johnson (334) in 2002 and the highest by an AL pitcher since California's Nolan Ryan (341) in 1977..was the third pitcher in Astros history to record 300K in a season, following J.R. Richard (313 in 1979; 303 in 1978) and Mike Scott (306 in 1986); was joined by Justin Verlander (300K) in 2019...Set a Major League record with a 13.82 K/9.0IP ratio (326K/212.1IP), surpassing Arizona's Randy Johnson (13.41) in 2001...marked the fewest innings in a 300-strikeout season in Baseball history...Became the fourth pitcher in Major League history to notch double-digit strikeouts at least 21 times in one season, joining Arizona's Randy Johnson (23 in 1999, 23 in 2000, 23 in 2001), Los Angeles-NL's Sandy Koufax (21 in 1965) and California's Nolan Ryan (23 in 1973)...beginning 8/7, became the first pitcher ever to compile a streak of nine consecutive double-digit-strikeout performances...recorded at least 10K with 0BB a Major league record seven times...Over his final 22 regular-season starts (beg. 5/27), went 16-0 with a 1.78 ERA (146.2IP, 88H, 32R/29ER, 31BB, 226K, 18HR)...is tied for the 10th-longest winning streak in Baseball history, the longest since Washington's Stephen Strasburg also won 16 straight from 9/15/15-7/15/16...marked the longest winning streak in Astros history, surpassing the previous record of 12 consecutive wins, held by Wade Miller (2002) and Mark Portugal (1993)...was tied for the third-longest streak of winning decisions in a single season in Major League history, behind the New York Giants' Rube Marquard's 19 consecutive wins in 1912 and Pittsburgh's Roy Face's 17 straight in 1959...was the longest in a season since the Yankees' Roger Clemens also won 16 consecutive decisions (over 20 starts) in 2001...is tied with Clemens (final 22 starts in 1998 with Toronto) for the Majors' longest single-season streak of unbeaten starts since Baltimore's Dave McNally was unbeaten in his first 26 starts of 1969...Finished runner-up in AL Cy Young Award voting to teammate Justin Verlander (171-159)...Verlander received 17 first-place and 13 second-place votes, while Cole received 13 first-place and 17 second-place votes...marked the fifth time in Cy Young Award history that teammates occupied the first two places, also Arizona's Randy Johnson (winner) and Curt Schilling (runner-up) in both 2001 and 2002, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Mike Marshall (winner) and Andy Messersmith (runner-up) in 1974, and the Brooklyn Dodgers' Don Newcombe (winner) and Sal Maglie (runner-up; acquired midseason from Cleveland) in 1956...Took home three of the AL's six "Pitcher of the Month" Awards in 2019, in June, July and September...was the third AL pitcher in five years to take home three "Pitcher of the Month" awards in one season, following Cleveland's Corey Kluber in 2017 and Houston's Dallas Keuchel in 2015...Held left-handed hitters to .175/.235/.352 (67-for-383) with 17HR, 30BB and 182K...his 43.6% strikeout rate vs. lefties is the highest by any pitcher since data was first tracked in 1974 (min. 300BF), eclipsing his own mark of 41.1% in 2018...According to Statcast, threw 1,048 fastballs of at least 97.0 mph, second-most in the Majors to the Mets' Noah Syndergaard (1,392)...registered a 97.2 mph average velocity on the pitch (FanGraphs), second to Syndergaard (97.7) among qualified Major League pitchers...Allowed one-or-zero runs in 17-of-33 starts, tied with St. Louis's Jack Flaherty for the most in the Majors (excluding "openers")...Surrendered a career-high 9R and 8ER over 4.1IP in 4/20 loss at Texas...had gone his first 36 starts as an Astro without allowing more than 4R, tying Philadelphia's Tommy Greene (1990-92) for the longest streak by a pitcher to start his tenure with a club in Major League history (excluding 'openers')...In 4/30 win at Minnesota, allowed 1H with 11K over 7.0 scoreless innings (3BB, 1WP)...was the ninth game in Astros history with at least 7.0 scoreless innings, 11K and 1H-or-fewer...With 65K in his first seven starts (3/29-4/30), tied Philadelphia's Curt Schilling (1998) for the most strikeouts prior to May in Major League history...Was named the AL "Pitcher of the Month" for June after going 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA (38.0IP, 8ER) in six starts...was his second career "Pitcher of the Month" award (also April 2015 with Pittsburgh)...was named the AL "Pitcher of the Month" for July after going 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA (34.0IP, 7ER) in five starts, his second consecutive "Pitcher of the Month" award...In 7/22 win vs. Oakland, recorded 11K to reach 200K on the season (in 133.1IP), the second-fewest innings needed to reach 200 strikeouts in a season in Major League history, trailing only Arizona's Randy Johnson (130.2IP in 2001)...Was scratched from his scheduled start on 8/13 at Chicago-AL with right hamstring discomfort...missed two turns in the rotation but did not go on the I.L...Was named AL "Pitcher of the Month" for September after going 5-0 with a 1.07 ERA (42.0IP, 20H, 6R/5ER, 7BB, 74K, 4HR) in six starts...his 74K were tied for the 10th-highest total in a calendar month in the Modern Era (since 1900), and the second-most since 1978 (Chicago-AL's Chris Sale75K in June 2015)...were the most strikeouts in a month without a loss in Baseball history (previously Boston's Pedro Martinez-70K in September 1999)...In a 21-1 win on 9/8 vs. Seattle, celebrated his 29th birthday by recording a season-high 15 strikeouts over 8.0IP (1H, 1ER, 1HR, 0BB)...was the second-highest total of his career (16K on 5/4/18 at Arizona w/ Houston)...his only base runner allowed was a one-out solo HR in the fourth by Shed Long...set a Major League record for strikeouts on a pitcher's birthday, surpassing the 14K by Arizona's Randy Johnson on 9/10/00 at Florida...was one of three double-digit-strikeout performances by a pitcher on his birthday during the 2010s, also Washington's Max Scherzer (11K on 7/27/18 at Miami) and the Angels' Dan Haren (10K on 9/17/10 at Tampa Bay)...joined St. Louis' Chris Carpenter (12K, 0BB on 4/27/05 vs. Milwaukee) as the only two pitchers ever to record at least 10K with 0BB on his birthday...was the first Astros starter to earn a win on his birthday since Roy Oswalt on 8/29/07 vs. St. Louis...was the first pitcher ever to receive at least 20R of support on his birthday...On 8/28 vs. Tampa Bay (6.2IP, 4ER, 14K), 9/2 at Milwaukee (6.0IP, 1ER, 14K) and 9/8 vs. Seattle (8.0IP, 1ER, 15K), became the second pitcher in Major League history to record at least 14K in three consecutive starts, joining Boston's Pedro Martinez from 9/4-15/99 (15K, 17K, 14K)...according to Elias, became the first pitcher since 1893 to record at least 14K in fewer than 7.0IP in consecutive games...the 9/2 start came one day after Justin Verlander's 14-strikeout no-hitter, making the duo the first pair of teammates in Major League history to register at least 14K in consecutive games...From 8/22-9/8 became the first pitcher in Astros history and fourth in Major League history to record at least 12K in four consecutive starts (Pedro Martinez-3x, Randy Johnson, Chris Sale)...Was named AL "Player of the Week" for 9/23-29 after earning wins on 9/24 at Seattle (7.0IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 14K) and 9/29 at Los Angeles-AL (5.0IP, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 10K, 1HR)...was his first career weekly award...In 9/24 win at Seattle, surpassed J.R. Richard's 1979 Houston franchise record of 313 strikeouts...In 9/29 win at Los Angeles-AL (5.0IP, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 10K, 1HR), set a Major League record with his ninth consecutive start with at least 10K...marked his career-high 20th win...Went 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA (36.2IP, 21H, 7ER, 11BB, 47K, 4HR) in five postseason starts to lead Houston to the American League pennant...tied the AL record for strikeouts in a postseason (also Texas's Cliff Lee in 2010)...is tied for the second-highest strikeout total by any pitcher in a postseason behind Arizona's Curt Schilling's 56K in 2001...opponents hit .165 (21-for-127)...Set a Major League Division Series record with 25K in two starts vs. Tampa Bay (2-0, 0.57 ERA, 15.2IP, 6H, 1ER, 3BB, 1HR)...broke the previous mark of 22K shared by Washington's Stephen Strasburg in 2017 and Detroit's Justin Verlander in 2012...was the eighth postseason series in Major League history with at least 25K, following St. Louis's Bob Gibson (35K in 1968 World Series, 31K in 1964 World Series, 26K in 1967 World Series), Los AngelesNL's Sandy Koufax (29K in 1965 World Series), Boston's Bill Dineen (28K in 1903 World Series), Arizona's Curt Schilling (26K in 2001 World Series) and Baltimore's Mike Mussina (25K in 1997 ALCS)...joined Washington's Stephen Strasburg (2017 NLDS), Detroit's Justin Verlander (2012-13 ALDS), Texas's Cliff Lee (2010 ALDS), Mussina (1997 ALCS), Gibson (1967-68 World Series) and Koufax (1965 World Series) as the seventh pitcher (ninth occurrence) to record two double-digit-strikeout efforts in one postseason series...In ALDS Game 2 win vs. Tampa Bay, recorded 15K over 7.2 scoreless innings (4H, 1BB)...set an Astros postseason strikeout record, tied for the third-highest strikeout total in Major League postseason history, behind St. Louis's Bob Gibson (17K in 1968 World Series Game 1 vs. Detroit) and San Diego's Kevin Brown (16K in 1998 NLDS Game 1 at Houston)...was the seventh pitcher with 15K in a postseason game, his 15K also tied with the Yankees' Roger Clemens (2000 ALCS Game 4 at Seattle), Florida's Livan Hernández (1997 ALCS Game 5 vs. Atlanta), Baltimore's Mike Mussina (1997 ALCS Game 3 at Cleveland) and Los Angeles-NL's Sandy Koufax (1963 World Series Game 1 at the Yankees)...joined Gibson (17K, 1BB) as the only pitchers with 15K and 1BBor-fewer in a postseason game...In ALDS Game 5 win vs. Tampa Bay, earned the series-clinching victory with a postseason career-high 8.0IP (2H, 1ER, 2BB, 10K, 1HR)...allowed his only run on a solo HR by Eric Sogard in the second inning...became the third pitcher to complete 8.0IP and allow 2H-or-fewer in a winner-take-all postseason game, joining Kansas City's Johnny Cueto (8.0IP, 2H, 2ER, 0BB, 8K, 1HR) in 2015 ALDS Game 5 vs. Houston and Detroit's Justin Verlander (8.0IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 10K) in 2013 ALDS Game 5 at Oakland...In ALCS Game 3 win at the Yankees, tossed 7.0 scoreless innings (4H, 5BB, 7K) to earn his 19th consecutive win (reg. season and postseason), a Major League record...his 5BB tied his regular season career high...snapped his streak of 11 consecutive starts (reg. season and postseason) with double-digit strikeouts...became the third Astros pitcher to win each of his first three starts of a postseason, joining Justin Verlander (first 4GS in 2017) and Roy Oswalt (2005), and the first to do so while allowing 1R-or-fewer in all three...Had his record streak of 19 consecutive winning decisions snapped with a loss in World Series Game 1 vs. Washington (7.0IP, 8H, 5ER, 1BB, 6K, 2HR)...marked his first career World Series start...Earned his first World Series win in Game 5 at Washington (7.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 9K, 1HR)...marked his AL-record fourth start of the 2019 postseason with at least 7.0IP and 1R-or-fewer.
2018
Was named to his second career All-Star Team and was one of the most dominant pitchers in the game in what was his first season with the Astros...led the Majors in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12.60)...in the AL, ranked second in strikeout rate (34.5%), ranking second in strikeouts (272), second in opponent batting average (.198), second in WAR (6.3, Fangraphs), third in opponent OPS (.600), tied for third in winning percentage (.750), fourth in WHIP (1.03), fourth in ERA (2.88), tied for fourth in quality starts (20) and fifth in innings pitched (200.1)...reached the 200.0-inning mark for the third time in his career...struck out a career-high 276 batters, the fifth-most in a single season in franchise history behind J.R. Richard (313 in 1979, 303 in 1978), Mike Scott (306 in 1986) and Justin Verlander (290 in 2018)...set a single-season franchise record for strikeouts per 9.0 innings ratio (12.40), topping Nolan Ryan's record set in 1987 (11.48)...was the third-best mark in American League history, behind Pedro Martinez (13.20 in 1999) and Chris Sale (12.93 in 2017)...his .198 opponent batting average was the sixth-best mark in franchise history for a single year...the only pitchers with a better mark: Mike Scott (.186 in 1986), Nolan Ryan (.188 in 1981, .188 in 1986, .195 in 1983) and J.R. Richard (.196 in 1978)...dominated left-handed hitters all season, holding them to a .162 batting average (56x346) and a .519 OPS with 160 strikeouts...struck out more lefties than any pitcher in baseball...his 41.1% strikeout rate against left-handed hitters was the top mark by a starting pitcher, and the fourth-best mark by a starting pitcher since 1974, behind two seasons from Clayton Kershaw (41.5% in 2013; 46.8% in 2009) and one season from Oliver Perez (41.5% in 2004)...posted eight double-digit strikeout games (tied for the sixth-most in the Majors), striking out at least 11 batters in all eight of those games...had six double-digit strikeout games in his entire 127-start career with the Pirates (just 2 games with at least 11 strikeouts)...combined with Justin Verlander (290 SO) to post 566 strikeouts, the most by a duo in a single season in Astros history (previously 503 strikeouts by Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott in 1987)...also became the second duo of pitchers to top 270 strikeouts apiece in the same season, joining Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who did so in 2001 and 2002...set a franchise record for strikeouts by a pitcher over his first three games with the Astros (36), besting the previous record of 33 strikeouts set by Randy Johnson in 1998...per STATS Inc., the 36 strikeouts were the second-most by a pitcher in his first three games of a season in the live-ball era behind the 37 posted by Nolan Ryan for the Angels in 1973...also set a club record for strikeouts through four starts with the Astros (41)...set a Major League record for strikeouts within his first seven starts with a team (77)...set a franchise record for strikeouts prior to the AllStar Break (177)...topped Mike Scott's previous record of 167 set in 1986...started the Astros fourth game of the season on April 1 at TEX, striking out seven batters over 7.0 innings of one-run ball...gave up just two hits and three walks...per Elias, became the fourth player in Astros history to record 11-or-more strikeouts in his Astos debut...joined J.R. Richard (15 on Sept. 5, 1971 at SF-g2), Randy Johnson (12 on Aug. 2, 1998 at PIT) and Collin McHugh (12 on April 22, 2014 at SEA)...in his second start of the season on April 7 vs. SD, fanned 11 batters in 7.0 scoreless innings, giving up five hits with no walks...became the first pitcher in club history to have 11+ strikeouts in each of his first two starts with the club...set a club record for strikeouts through two starts with the Astros (22)...topped the previous record of 20, reached by Turk Farrell (1962), Tom Griffin (1969), J.R. Richard (1971) and Randy Johnson (1998)...became the first Astros pitcher to post 11+ strikeouts in back-to-back games since Wade Miller did so in his first two starts of the 2001 season...struck out a career-high 14 batters in his third start of the season on April 13 vs. TEX...gave up two runs on three hits...became the first pitcher in the Majors to strike out 14+ batters on 93 pitches or less since pitch count data started being tracked...joined Nolan Ryan (1973) as the only pitchers in MLB history (since 1908) to start a season by recording 11+ strikeouts in three consecutive games...became the fourth pitcher in club history to string together three consecutive starts with 11+ strikeouts at any point in a season, joining J.R. Richard (3 separate three-game streaks), Randy Johnson (1998) and Mike Scott (1986)...his 14 strikeouts on April 13 vs. TEX marked the most strikeouts by an Astro in a single game since Bud Norris also struck out 14 on Aug. 14, 2010 vs. PIT...tied the Minute Maid Park record for strikeouts by an Astro...per the Elias, his 41 strikeouts were a club record through a pitcher's first four starts with the Astros...tied the fourth-most strikeouts by a pitcher over his first four starts with a team in Major League history...tied Stephen Strasburg (2010), trailing Pedro Martinez (44 in 1998 for BOS), Randy Johnson (44 in 1999 for ARI) and Chris Sale (42 in 2017 for BOS)...became the first pitcher to start his career with the Astros by throwing at least 7.0 innings and allowing two runs-or-fewer in each of his first five starts for the club...set an AL record for strikeouts prior to May of a single season (61), topping the record set by Roger Clemens in 1988 (60)...became the first MLB pitcher with 61 strikeouts in a single April since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002...struck out 61 batters in April, a new club record for a single April...became the fourth Astros pitcher with 61 strikeouts in a single calendar month, joining Randy Johnson (61 in Aug. 1998), J.R. Richard (69 in Sept. 1979, 62 in Aug. 1979) and Mike Scott (64 in May 1986)...his 61 strikeouts tied the third-most by a pitcher within his first six starts with a team in Major League history (Elias)...tied Randy Johnson (1998 for HOU) and trailed Johnson (63 in 1999 for ARI) and Chris Sale (63 in 2017 for BOS)...produced one of the greatest starts in club history on May 4 at ARI, striking out 16 batters in a one-hit complete game shutout...was his first career shutout, and second career complete game (also July 27, 2016 vs. SEA)...16 strikeouts marked a career-high, and tied the second-most by a pitcher in a single game in Astros history with Randy Johnson (Aug. 28, 1998 vs. PIT), Nolan Ryan (Sept. 9, 1987 vs. SF) and Don Wilson (Sept. 10, 1968 at CIN)...was two strikeouts shy of the club record of 18 set by Wilson on July 14, 1968 at CIN.. his 16-strikeout game was just the 10th time in MLB history that a pitcher recorded 16+ strikeouts while allowing one hit or fewer in a shutout, most recently by Max Scherzer (twice in 2015)...the only others to do it: Brandon Morrow (2010), Curt Schilling (2002), Kerry Wood (20-strikeout game nearly 20 years prior on May 6, 1998) and Nolan Ryan (4 times: 1991, 1990, 1973, 1972)...became the first Astros pitcher to record at least 12 strikeouts in consecutive games (April 29-May 4) since J.R. Richard did so from Sept. 21-25, 1979...posted 93 strikeouts through his first nine starts, the third-most by a pitcher in his first nine starts with a team behind Randy Johnson (96 in 1998) and Chris Sale (95 in 2017)...became the first pitcher in club history to start his career with the Astros with eight straight quality starts..posted 101 strikeouts through his first 10 starts, the tying the second-most by a pitcher in his first 10 starts with Chris Sale (2017) behind Randy Johnson (108 in 1998)...joined Justin Verlander (2017-18) and Donne Wall (1995-96) as the only pitchers in club history to start their careers with the team with a six-game road win streak..posted a sevengame winning streak (second-longest of his career) from May 4-June 24...surpassed his single-season careerhigh for strikeouts (202) on Aug. 10 vs. SEA in what was his 24th start of the season...made two starts in the postseason, going 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA (5ER/13IP), 17 strikeouts and two walks...dominated the Indians in Game 2 of the ALDS vs. CLE, a 3-1 win...struck out 12 batters with no walks, allowing one run on three hits in 7.0 innings pitched...the lone run he allowed came on a Francisco Lindor solo homer in the 3rd inning...became the second pitcher in MLB history to strike out 12+ batters with no walks in a postseason game, joining the Mets Tom Seaver, who struck out 13 Reds hitters without a walk in his complete-game loss in Game 1 of the 1973 NLCS...took the loss in Game 2 of the ALCS at BOS...gave up five runs (4 earned) on six hits over 6.0 innings pitched.
2017
Set a career high in starts and shared the NL lead in that department...ranked third among National League pitchers in innings pitched; was one of seven pitchers with 200 or more innings pitched...also ranked 10th in strikeouts and seventh in fewest walks/per 9IP (2.44)...his strikeout total was the second-highest of his career and the fourth-highest total by a right-handed pitcher in team history...tied for second in the league in home runs allowed (31), one shy of the club record (32 by Murry Dickson in 1951)...went 9-7 with a 4.21 ERA in 18 starts on the road and 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 15 starts at home...was Pittsburgh's Opening Day starter for the first time in his career and suffered a 5-3 loss at Boston on April 2 (5ER/5IP)...was charged with two earned runs or less in seven straight starts from April 14-May 17 (1.96 REA, 10ER/46IP)...pitched 7.0 innings in three straight games from May 6-17...had 10 strikeouts (fifth career game with 10 or more) on July 19 vs. MIL...went 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA (8ER/32IP) in five starts during the month of July...pitched 8.0 innings (102 pitches) while winning his seventh straight road start on Aug. 10 at DET; the last Pittsburgh pitcher to win seven straight starts on the road was Don Robinson, who did so in 1982...connected off Luis Castillo for his third career home run in a 1-0 victory on Aug. 26 at CIN; marked the first time in team history that a Pittsburgh pitcher accounted for all the team's runs with a home run in a shutout victory...won eight straight road decisions between June 2 and Aug. 26 (nine starts) - the first Pittsburgh starting pitcher to do so since Steve Blass in 1972...had a career-high 12 sacrifice bunts, which was tied for second among NL leaders.
2016
Made only 21 starts during an injury-plagued season...Made his first regular season start in fifth team game on 4/9 in Cincinnati and suffered a 5-1 loss (4.2ip/3er)...Pitched 6.0 scoreless innings while winning his first decision in third start on 4/21 at San Diego...Was victorious in first career start at Coors Field in Colorado on 4/26 (6.0ip/2er) ...Pitched 8.0 scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory over Jon Lester at Chicago on 5/15...Gave up one run in 7.0ip while winning a 2-1 decision vs. Colorado on 5/20; was also his first Major League game without a strikeout...Doubled and hit his second career home run in his start on 5/26 vs. Arizona - the first Pittsburgh pitcher with a double and homer in the same game since Danny Darwin on 5/29/96...Went 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA (26.0ip/3er) in a four-start stretch from 5/8-26...Opposed Jose Fernandez at Marlins Park on 5/31 and lost a 3-1 decision (6.1ip/3er)...Posted a 2.68 ERA (37.0ip/11er) in six starts during the month of May...Left his start on 6/10 vs. St. Louis in the third inning due to right arm discomfort...Was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 6/14 (retro to 6/11) with a strained right triceps muscle ...Threw off a mound for the first time on 6/26 (15 fastballs)...Threw 45 pitches in a simulated game on 7/1 at Oakland...Made a rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis on 7/5 (3.0ip/2h/0r/0bb/6so - 45 pitches)...Made second rehab start on 7/10 at Columbus (5.0ip/2h/0r/0bb/6so - 70 pitches)...Was recalled from rehab and reinstated from the D.L. on 7/16...Suffered loss on 7/16 at Washington (4.0ip/5r/4er)...Threw 93 pitches while tossing his first career complete game in a 10-1 win vs. Seattle on 7/27; the first Pittsburgh pitcher to throw a complete game with fewer than 100 pitches since Francisco Liriano on 8/14/13 at St. Louis (94 pitches)...Won his final game on 8/2 at Atlanta...Gave up a career-high 12 hits in an 8-4 loss at Los Angeles (NL) on 8/13...Also gave up 12 hits in his next start; a no-decision vs. Miami on 8/19...Did not surrender a home run in 60.0 consecutive innings from the seventh inning on 5/20 thru the fifth inning on 8/19...Yielded 18 runs (17 earned) in 21.1ip over a four-start stretch from 8/7-24...Was placed on the 15-day D.L. on 8/29 (retro to 8/25) with posterior inflammation of his right elbow...Was reinstated from the D.L. on 9/12 and started that night at Philadelphia; allowed four walks and five runs in 2.0ip while suffering the loss...Lost each of his last four decisions...Was placed on the 60-day D.L. on 9/13 and missed the remainder of the season...Was reinstated from D.L. on 11/4.
2015
Was named to his first National League All Star team; pitched a scoreless third inning which included a strikeout of Mike Trout... Finished fourth in the BBWAA voting for the N.L. Cy Young Award...Did not commit an error in 47 total chances and was one of three finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his position (Zack Greinke won)...Tied for second in the league in wins, ranked fifth in ERA, seventh in innings pitched and 10th in strikeouts...Joined A.J. Burnett (209 in 2013) as the only two righthanded pitchers in club history to strike out 200 or more batters in a season... His 19 wins were the most by a Pittsburgh pitcher since LHP John Smiley won 20 in 1991 and the most by a RHP since Doug Drabek won 22 in 1990... Set career highs in starts, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts in his first full season with the Pirates...Was named National League Pitcher-of-the-Month for the month of April after going 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA and 35 strikeouts in five starts...Became first Pittsburgh pitcher since Randy Tomlin (June 1992) to win the award...Was used as a pinch hitter for the second time in his career on 4/21 vs. Chicago (NL)...Was charged with three runs or fewer in each of his first 14 starts...Pitched a career-high 8.1 innings and struck out 10 batters in a 4-1 win vs. New York (NL) on 5/22...Became the first Pittsburgh pitcher since Emil Yde in 1924-25 to win 30 games in 53 Major League starts or fewer (Yde went 30-12 in his first 50 career starts)...Became MLB's first 10-game winner on 6/13 in team game #61; the last Pirates pitcher to earn his 10th win of the season on 6/13 or earlier was Bob Friend in 1956 (6/8) and the last Pittsburgh pitcher to earn his 10th win of the season in the team's 61st game (or earlier) was Vernon Law in 1960 (56th game)...Became just the second Pittsburgh pitcher to win 13 games prior to the All-Star break; also Dock Ellis (14-3 in 1971)...Became the first National League pitcher to win 13 or more games by the All-Star break since 2010, when Ubaldo Jimenez went 15-1 for Colorado and Adam Wainwright went 13-5 for St. Louis...Became just the third Pittsburgh pitcher to lead the Major Leagues in wins (13) at the AllStar break (since the first All-Star Game was played in 1933); also Roy Face in 1959 (12-0 and tied for the lead) and Rip Sewell in 1943 (12-2)...Had a 14-4 record and a 2.24 ERA after 20 starts, one of only three pitchers in Pirates history to have as many wins and as low an ERA over his first 20 starts of a season; the others were RHP Al Mamaux in 1915 (14-4, 1.78 ERA) and RHP Rip Sewell in 1943 (16-2, 2.22 ERA)...Pitched 7.0 scoreless innings while winning 16th game on 9/6 at St. Louis...Did not pitch again until 9/15...Went 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA (21.0ip/6er) in his last three starts and 4-0 in his last five outings... Went 4-1 in six September starts and has now gone 12-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 starts during the final month of season...Was the recipient of the Steve Blass Award, which is recognized by the local chapter of the BBWAA as the team's Most Outstanding Pitcher.
2015 POSTSEASON: Started the Wild Card Game against the Cubs on 10/7 and suffered a 4-0 loss to Jake Arrieta.
2014
Established career highs in every category while spending majority of season with Pittsburgh...Ranked second on staff in wins behind Edinson Volquez (13)...Was the winning pitcher in his season debut on 4/4 vs. St. Louis (7.0ip/2er)...Struck out 10 batters while also winning his second start on 4/10 at Chicago (NL)...Was in line for third win on 4/20 vs. Milwaukee before the Brewers tied the game in the ninth inning...Also had his second career two-hit game at the plate on 4/20...Gave up a total of two runs in back-to-back starts on 4/20 (8.0ip/1er) and 4/25 (7.0ip/1er), but went 0-1...Singled as a pinch hitter on 5/5 vs. San Francisco...Tied career high with 8.0 innings pitched while winning a 4-3 decision over Tim Lincecum and the Giants at PNC Park on 5/7...Pitched in front of about 30 friends and family members at Dodger Stadium on 5/29 and won his fifth game of the season (6.1ip/3er)...Gave up one run and struck out six batters in 5.2ip while winning his sixth game on 6/3 at San Diego...Was placed on the 15-day D.L. on 6/8 (retro to 6/4) with right arm fatigue...Threw a simulated game at PNC Park on 6/18 (65 pitches)...Threw a second sim game on 6/23 at Tampa (84 pitches)...Was reinstated from disabled list on 6/28 and suffered a 5-3 loss to the Mets that afternoon at PNC Park (4.0ip/5er)...Won his next start on 7/4 vs. Philadelphia (5.0ip/1h/0r), but left the game with right lat soreness... Was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 7/8 (retro to 7/5) with right lat soreness...Threw 72 pitches in a simulated game at PNC Park on 7/23...Made rehab start (81 pitches) with Triple-A Indianapolis on 7/28 and tossed 5.0 scoreless frames in a 5-0 win at Rochester (5h/3bb/7k)...Made second rehab start on 8/5 vs. Toledo and gave up 10 hits and five runs in 4.1ip...Pitched 6.0 scoreless frames and gave up just one hit while making third rehab start on 8/10 vs. Rochester...Made his fourth rehab start on 8/15 and tossed 7.0 scoreless frames (92 pitches); also went 1-for-4 with a double at the plate... Was recalled from rehab and reinstated from D.L. on 8/20; made start that night and received a no-decision vs. Atlanta (7.0ip/2er)...Struck out nine batters and left his next start on 8/26 vs. St. Louis with a 2-0 lead only to be a victim of a blown save...Was optioned to Class-A Bristol on 8/29...Was recalled on 9/1 and made the start that afternoon in St. Louis; took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning before giving up a pinch-hit homer to Kolten Wong and eventually lost a 5-4 decision...Connected off Blake Parker for his first Major League home run while winning a 10-4 decision at Wrigley Field on 9/7...Won each of his last four decisions and went 4-1 in six starts during the month of September...Tied his career high with 12 strikeouts in his final start on 9/28 at Cincinnati...Went 8-for-44 (.182) at the plate with a home run and two RBI; singled as a pinch hitter on 5/5 vs. San Francisco...Went 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA (69.0ip/26er) in 11 starts at PNC Park.
2013
2013 SEASON: Entered season ranked by Baseball America as the Pirates top prospect and as having the "Best Fastball" and "Best Slider" in the system...Also ranked by MLB.com as No. 9 in their list of the Top 100 prospects in baseball...Began season with Triple-A Indianapolis...Did not allow a run in his final two Triple-A starts and 19.0 innings overall...Was selected by Pittsburgh on 6/11 and made his Major League debut that night against Tim Lincecum and the Giants at PNC Park...Gave up two runs in 6.1ip and was victorious in his debut; also had a two-run single in his first at bat, which was his first hit since high school...Became one of four starting pitchers since 1920 to earn a win and have at least two RBI in his Major League debut; also George Caster with the Athletics in 1934, Jim Turner with the Braves in 1937 and Jason Jennings with the Rockies in 2001...Also became just the third Pirates pitcher since 1900 to pitch at least six innings without allowing a walk in his big league debut, joining George Merritt, who did it on September 6, 1901 and Len Gilmore on October 1, 1944...Won his first four starts; the first Pittsburgh pitcher since Nick Maddox in 1907 to do so...Suffered first big league loss in fifth start on 7/4 vs. Philadelphia (5.1ip/3er)...Lost three straight decisions before winning again on 7/23 at Washington; gave up two hits and one run in 5-1 victory that night while also going 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate to become the first Pirates rookie starter to have two or more hits while holding his opponent to two or fewer hits since Hank Gornicki had two hits in a two-hit shutout against the Boston Braves on August 27, 1942...Gave up three runs or fewer in each of his first eight career starts; the last Pirates pitcher to allow three runs or fewer in each of his first eight career starts was Whammy Douglas, who allowed no more than three runs in all eight of his starts in 1957...Received his first no-decision (5.0ip/4er) in his 11th start on 8/8 vs. Miami...Set a franchise record by pitching at least 5.0 innings and allowing no more than three earned runs in 10 consecutive starts to begin a career; the MLB record is 16 set by Gary Peters in 1963 with Boston and matched by Steve Rogers in 1973 with Montreal...Went 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in five starts during the month of September and was named National League Rookie-of-the-Month...Went 6-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break...Struck out career-high 12 batters on 9/19 vs. San Diego; the most by a Pittsburgh rookie since Jose DeLeon whiffed 13 on 8/20/83 vs. Cincinnati...Went 7-for-34 (.206) with five RBI at the plate (led Bucco pitchers in RBI)...Ranked sixth among N.L. rookies in ERA, sixth in wins, seventh in innings pitched and eighth in strikeouts...Was named to the Baseball America National League Rookie Team.
2013 POSTSEASON: Started Game Two of the N.L.D.S. vs. St. Louis on 10/4 and won a 7-1 decision (6.0ip/2h/1r) over Lance Lynn; also knocked in the game's first run with an RBI-single in the second inning...According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other rookies have been credited with a victory and a game-winning RBI in a postseason game: Spec Shea did it for the Yankees against the Dodgers in Game Five of the 1947 World Series and Paul (Daffy) Dean, brother of Dizzy, did it for the Cardinals against the Tigers in Game Six of the 1934 Series...Was the starter and loser against Adam Wainwright in Game Five at St. Louis on 10/9 (5.0ip/3h/2r).
2012
Began season ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's No. 1 prospect and the 12th in all of minor league baseball...Also tabbed by the same publication as having the "Best Fastball" and "Best Slider" among Pirates farmhands...Went 9-7 with a 2.80 ERA in 26 combined starts at three different levels of the organization...Ranked second in strikeouts (136) and fourth in ERA in the Pirates minor league system...Attended spring training as a non-roster invitee and began professional career with Single-A Bradenton..Allowed one run on four hits in 4.0ip while striking out seven batters in a no-decision while making professional debut on 4/9 at Palm Beach...Allowed one hit over 6.0 scoreless innings and won his first game on 4/30 at Jupiter...Won each of his final five decisions with the Marauders, going 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA (50.0ip/10er) over nine starts from 4/30 to 6/14...Was named to the Florida State League mid-season All-Star team but did not participate in the contest after being promoted to Altoona on 6/20...Ranked third in the Florida State League in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (9.27), fourth in batting average against (.217), fifth in ERA and sixth in strikeouts at the time of his promotion...Won his Double-A debut on 6/20 vs. New Britain after allowing two runs in 5.0 innings...Was hit in the face by a line drive in his 6/26 start at Harrisburg; stayed in the game and finished the inning but left due to his pitch count in the first inning...Pitched in the All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City on 7/8; allowed a two-run homer while also striking out a pair of batters in 1.0 inning of work...Was promoted to Indianapolis on 9/1 and won his Triple-A debut vs. Toledo after allowing three runs in 6.0 innings and striking out seven batters...Started and lost Game Two of Indianapolis' first round playoff matchup against Charlotte (2.0ip/9h/8r/8er).
2011
Finished three-year career at UCLA on 6/3 and was selected by the Pirates as the first overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft on 6/6...Allowed one run or less in seven of his 16 starts with UCLA and registered at least 10 strikeouts five times...Had a perfect game broken up with a two-out single in bottom of the 7th inning at Nebraska on 3/5 while pitching in 25-degree weather; ended up with a no-decision (9.0ip/2h/0r) in 1-0 UCLA win in 11 innings...Also had a perfect game broken up with a one-out double in the top of the 7th against Georgia on 3/11...Officially signed with Pittsburgh on 8/15...Made professional debut during the Arizona Fall League, where he went 2-0 with 3.00 ERA in five starts with Mesa (15.0ip/10h/6r/5er/4bb/16so)...Gave up three runs in 2.1ip while also reaching 100 mph on the radar gun in his debut on 10/14...Pitched 3.0 scoreless innings and whiffed three batters while winning his first game on 10/20 (fastball recorded at 100 mph six times and 101 once)...Was charged with just three earned runs in his last four starts (12.2ip - 2.13 ERA).
