Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commi sion if you sign up through our links. Read our for more information. The first step in the after an 8-18 stretch is to get more from their ace. Gerrit Coles return from rehab in that time has made for a 5.40 ERA the highest mark hes held through the first five starts of any season in his career. A lot of that can be attributed to him walking more than three percent more hitters than last year, leading to a 1.46 WHIP. : 1.93 homers per nine innings and a career-high .328 average on balls hit in play. The Over on his strikeouts prop against the Rays on Arsenal Jersey Friday has added value because despite these troubles, Cole is still sitting more than10 hitters per nine innings. Explore More Gerrit Cole should have a big night Friday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post The Rays are a top-10 team in most strikeouts because they make zone contact at one of the sparsest rates in the game. They also chase pitches outside the zone (tied for fifth-highest percentage in ). Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting Read about the Learn all about Cole has cleared the 5.5 line in three straight starts. Hes drawing the exact same amount of whiffs with his fastball as 2023 with similar velocity, so getting the Rays to swing should not be difficult. THE PLAY: Gerrit Cole Over 6.5 strikeouts (-150, ) South Korea Jersey