Cole, Strasburg are July Pitchers of Month

Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg have been named American League and National League Pitchers of the Month for July, respectively. It’s the second consecutive month that Cole has been AL Pitcher of the Month and his third Pitcher of the Month honor overall -- he also won in the National League in April 2015.

Could this achievement indicate some foreshadowing for Cole? The last AL pitcher to win consecutive Pitcher of the Month Awards was Blake Snell in August and September last year. His next honor? That would be the 2018 AL Cy Young Award.

For Strasburg, it’s his fourth NL Pitcher of the Month Award, and his first since September 2017. This is the second straight month that a Nationals pitcher has won Pitcher of the Month honors, as Max Scherzer was June’s NL victor.

Cole made five July starts, allowing seven earned runs in 34 innings for a 1.85 ERA. Opponents hit just .174 against him in that span, and he recorded 51 strikeouts. Those 51 K's were tied for the most in the AL in July with Trevor Bauer, and his .174 opponent average was the lowest among pitchers with at least 100 batters faced in July.

Strasburg allowed just four runs in five July starts, amassing a 1.14 ERA and 44 strikeouts. Though the award is of course for pitching, it’s worth noting that Strasburg got it done at the plate in July, too. He hit .357, going 5-for-14 with a homer and six RBIs. On July 18 against the Braves, he notched two hits in the third inning -- a single and a home run.