Cole threw three scoreless innings on two hits and no walks Wednesday against the Dominican Republic. He didn't record a strikeout, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports. "I felt strong," Cole said. "I tried to just keep getting as many reps with the fastball as I can, just continue to build strength."

EDGE Analysis

Cole used his slider for the first time this spring but was more pleased with the rest of his repertoire. "I thought the changeup had good action today as well as the curveball," he relayed. "I hit both sides of the plate well. I changed height on the fastball well. It was good." Coach Mike Lavalliere recently said Cole potentially offers the best changeup among all Pirates pitchers. An effective off-speed pitch could work wonders for Cole, who throws hard across the board aside from the curve (which he uses only 10 percent of the time).

Cole gave up two hits and a walk in two scoreless innings Friday. He failed to record a strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

He let the first two batters he faced reach base but then compelled Manny Machado to ground into a double play. Cole didn't have his best stuff Friday but the outing was encouraging, given his 2016 season was cut short by an elbow injury.

Cole has officially been named the Pirates' Opening Day starter, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

It will be the first career Opening Day start for Cole, who will take the mound on April 3 against the Red Sox. The 26-year-old struggled with injuries last season and he'll look to rediscover his 2015 form, which saw him win 19 games while posting a 2.60 ERA.

Cole will throw two innings in a simulated game on Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cole dealt with bouts of elbow inflammation last season and has been cautiously eased into spring training activity. After finishing fourth in Cy Young voting in 2015, he recorded a career-worst 3.88 ERA last season and was shut down in September. Nonetheless, if all goes well, expect the former All-Star to see Grapefruit League action soon.

Cole threw two innings of live batting practice Tuesday, a sign that he's finally healthy at the start of a spring training, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "I've learned how to deal with some adversity, so hopefully I'm better for it," Cole said.

EDGE Analysis

He's faced spring training setbacks in both of the last two camps. Cole is coming off his worst professional season -- he compiled a 3.88 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 116 innings -- and landed on the DL three separate occasions.

Cole avoided arbitration with the Pirates on Friday by signing a $3.75 million deal, Rob Biertempfel of the Piitsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cole stumbled in 2016, posting a career-high 3.88 ERA in 116 innings and eventually having to be shut down with an elbow injury. The injury reportedly doesn't involve any ligament damage, but it remains a risk factor going forward. All things considered, it's a decent showing in Cole's first round of arbitration and a reward for an excellent 2015 season when he finished fourth in the Cy Young voting.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington confirmed that Gerrit Cole (elbow) began his regular offseason throwing program in December. "Best news we can give is that it's been a normal offseason," Huntington told DK Pittsburgh Sports. "We're looking forward to him coming into spring training with a normal baseball offseason under his belt and ready to come out and be Gerrit Cole."

EDGE Analysis

Cole injured his rib cage prior to spring training in 2016 and never pitched to his capabilities. He allowed 10.16 H/9 last summer, an increase over his career mark of 8.54 H/9. The Pirates are looking for the righty to regain his 2015 form when he went 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 208 innings.

Cole (elbow) will begin his normal throwing program Monday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

He needed several months to the let the elbow inflammation subside, but Cole said Saturday that he is healthy and ready to pick up a baseball again. With pitchers and catchers not reporting for another two-plus months, Cole has plenty of time to gradually rebuild strength. The 26-year-old will be a popular bounce-back candidate in drafts.

Cole (elbow) is taking part in his normal offseason program, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cole was diagnosed with elbow inflammation last August and was eventually shut down for the season. It appears that his recovery is going well and that he should be good to go when pitchers and catchers report to spring training in February.

Cole (elbow) should be able to have a normal offseason, according to agent Scott Boras, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

While it sounds like Cole should be able to go through his normal offseason routine in preparation for spring training, nothing should be taken for granted given the nature of the injury. Cole was diagnosed with elbow inflammation in late August -- the team has been adamant that there is no ligament damage -- and "needed a few months" to let the swelling go down, per Boras. Cole went 7-10 with a 3.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 98:36 K:BB in 21 starts in 2016.