Cole allowed one run on 10 hits, walking one, and failing to strike out a batter over seven innings of a 2-1 win against Colorado on Friday night.

EDGE Analysis

An unusual outing to say the least for the Pirates' young ace. Cole (5-3) pitched around baserunners all night, and failed to register even one strikeout. He threw strikes (72 of 109 pitches) but saw a lot of balls fouled off (25) and only four swinging strikes. He'll carry a snappy 2.79 ERA when he faces off against Arizona in Pittsburgh next time out.

Cole (4-3) allowed no runs on three hits while striking out seven over eight innings to earn the win Sunday at the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Cole shut down the powerful Cubs offense, and received just enough run support to pick up the victory. He's now held opponents to two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts to lower his ERA to 3.05. He'll make his next start Friday against the Rockies.

Cole (3-3) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings Sunday, striking out seven, to get the win as the Pirates downed the Cardinals 10-5.

EDGE Analysis

He's still having trouble lasting deep into games and Cole needed 104 pitches (65 strikes) to get through Sunday's outing. He hasn't pitched more than six innings in a start all season, with an elevated walk rate (3.24 BB/9 after a 1.90 rate last year) seeming to be the primary culprit. He'll have a tough matchup in his next start, a duel against Jake Arrieta in Wrigley Field on Friday, so we'll see if Cole can rise to the occasion.

Cole (2-3) allowed six runs in 4.2 innings in a losing effort against the Cubs on Monday. He allowed six hits and four walks while striking out six.

EDGE Analysis

The six runs were the most Cole has allowed in a single start in his career. The 25-year-old had allowed a total of seven runs in his first four games this season, which indicates Monday's dud was just a speed bump for the 2015 All-Star. Cole will try to right the ship Sunday against the Cardinals.

Cole (2-2) allowed four runs but just two earned on eight hits over six innings Tuesday in a win over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Thanks to a passed ball and an error, Cole managed to squeeze in the quality start. Even though he struggled to miss bats like he usually does (six swinging strikes, three strikeouts), Cole limited the Rockies to mostly weak contact. The only extra-base knock of Colorado's eight hits was a Nolan Arenado home run. That home run was the first Cole has allowed this year, a big reason why he owns a sharp 2.78 ERA.

Cole (1-2) didn't allow a run over six innings against the Padres on Thursday to claim his first win of the 2016 season. He allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked none.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander pitched better in his second outing last week, but didn't really seem like himself during his first two starts. He looked great Thursday, registering 20 called strikes and eight swing-and-misses. He actually only threw a first-pitch strike to 12 of the 22 batters he faced, but he still avoided any walks. Cole now has 16 strikeouts and just four walks over 16.2 innings. His next start will be Tuesday in Colorado.

Cole avoided serious injury when a line drive off the bat of Jordan Zimmermann nicked his forehead in the sixth inning of Thursday's contest. "I hit the deck pretty hard," Cole told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "Luckily, I was able to get out of the way. It didn't get me that good.

EDGE Analysis

The liner ricocheted off Cole and was fielded by Andrew McCutchen in center field. The righty also slipped on his follow-through in the second inning but avoided a possible ankle injury. He'll face the Padres in San Diego in his next start.

Cole (0-2) pitched six innings, allowing two runs, four hits and one walk while striking out five in Thursday's loss to the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

It was an improvement compared to his bumpy debut last week against the Reds, but Cole still was saddled with the loss. For the first time in his career, the righty sits at 0-2 after his first two starts to begin a season. The 25-year-old draws a nice matchup next week against the Padres as he looks for notch his first win of 2016.

Cole struggled in his season debut Saturday, allowing three earned runs on five hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He also struck out four batters.

EDGE Analysis

The righty needed 100 pitched (62 for strikes) to navigate his way through fewer than five innings. There were some encouraging signs, however. Cole hit 97 mph and threw 10 changeups, including back-to-back changes that struck out the red-hot Jay Bruce. On average, he threw his changeup just three percent of the time in 2015 and the less stressful pitch could help give opposing batters another look. Thanks to a rib injury, Cole got a late spring start. He's never fared well in Cincinnati, either, going 0-4 in five starts. The ace will surely find better success in the not-too-distant future, though a home matchup against the Tigers in Week 2 figures to challenge him.

Cole is expected to make his first start of the season Saturday versus the Reds, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

After being very limited in spring training, Cole is back to full health and is set to make his season debut. There were thoughts that he'd make his first start Friday, but the Pirates decided to have Francisco Liriano pitch on that day to keep him on schedule. Because of this, Jeff Locke will now pitch on Sunday.