Gerrit Cole played for the Astros in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. (Source: Imagn)
Gerrit Cole not coming out of the bullpen to save the day for the Houston Astros during Game 7 of the 2019 World Series remains a big mystery. The ace had a stellar regular season going 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA and an even better postseason with a 4-1 record and 1.72 ERA.
The World Series headed towards a decider after the Washington Nationals were able to tie up the series with a 7-2 win in Game 6. Ahead of the game, then-Astros manager AJ Hinch said the team would use Cole, who had started in Game 5, on short rest if they had a lead in the ninth inning.
Houston did have a 2-0 lead but squandered it away with a three-run seventh from the Nationals. Cole never came on, and Washington would close the game out to clinch its first title in franchise history.
