MLB futures: Can Gerrit Cole hit the Over on K's in 2024?

MLB.com contributor Brian Murphy thinks Cole will be a strikeout leader once again in 2024 even though the starter is getting older, citing Cole's consistency. And if Cole stays consistent — and healthy — then betting he will register over 215.5 strikeouts sounds like a good bet.

"The two-time MLB strikeout king is still the game’s most reliable pitcher when it comes to racking up the K’s," Murphy said. "Cole’s 1,418 strikeouts since the start of 2018 are 200 more than anyone else, and he has averaged 265 K’s over the last five full seasons."

Pinstripe Alley makes a similar argument. They note that the small dip in velocity Cole's fastball last year was also met with consistency due to adjustments he has made to stay in the starting rotation longer.

"After more consistently throwing his heater up in the zone, and less in the heart, Cole saw more overall success with the pitch despite getting fewer whiffs," the site says. "As he enters his mid-30s, redefining how he uses the unique properties of his four-seamer will be crucial for him to sustain long-term health." 

They add: "Taking off a little juice may have hurt the whiff and strikeout profile of the pitch, but the gains on command and health sustainability will prove to be a good decision for Cole."

As Yardbarker has said before , no one can predict how healthy a team or its players will be before the season starts. However, it looks like Gerrit Cole is already taking strides to ensure he continues to be a healthy starting pitcher. With that in mind, there is plenty of reason to believe he can hit DK's over on strikeouts for 2024. 

We'll just have to see how he does in his first outing in the regular season. He's got to be the Opening Day starter after winning the AL Cy Young and posted 222 strikeouts, right?