2017 Pittsburgh Pirates Rum Bunter Staff Predictions: Marty

Mar 7, 2017; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) before the start of the spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2017; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) before the start of the spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gerrit Cole
Feb 19, 2017; Bradenton, FL, USA;Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pose for a photo for photo day at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Gerrit Cole

This was, by far, the easiest call to make when predicting the 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates. When healthy, Gerrit Cole is one of the best starting pitchers in all of Major League Baseball. Pirate fans saw this in 2015 when he finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting.

The 2016 season was an injury-riddled one for Gerrit Cole. His injuries were a big reason why the Pirates regressed to 78 wins. If he’s healthy in 2017, he will contend for the NL Cy Young Award once again.

During Cole’s Cy Young worthy 2015 campaign he posted a 2.66 FIP, 5.4 WAR, and a 202:44 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 208 innings pitched. Prior to getting injured in 2016, Cole owned a 2.88 FIP which was in the top five in the Major Leagues.

Despite battling injury, Gerrit Cole still posted a 3.33 FIP and a 2.5 WAR in 2016. He was also a bit snake bitten (.354 BABIP) last season.

This spring Gerrit Cole has looked like his 2015 self. His stuff has been phenomenal and has bordered on un-hittable at times.

When he is healthy, Gerrit Cole is one of the best starting pitchers in the National League. For this reason, he will be the Pirates’ 2017 Cy Young winner. Hell, he could win the league-wide Cy Young and it would not come as a surprise.