Reporters had started to exit manager Clint Hurdle’s offense this afternoon when Hurdle casually asked a media relations staffer, “Did we tell them that Cole will start the wild-card game officially?”
The poorly kept secret became official: Right-hander Gerrit Cole will pitch for the Pirates against the Chicago Cubs in the one-game wild-card playoff Oct. 7.
The 25-year-old Cole, the first overall selection in the 2011 draft, was the Pirates’ best starter this season. He pitched 208 innings in 32 starts and posted a 2.60 ERA. Cole struck out 8.7 batters per nine innings, walked only 1.