Gerrit Cole is doing really well with his change of scenery.

The Astros acquired the former No. 1 overall pick this offseason after a year in which he finished with a career-worst 4.26 ERA with 31 home runs allowed, and the 27 year old looks nothing like the pitcher he was in 2017.

Cole struck out 14 batters in the Astros 3-2 win over the Rangers giving him at least 11 strikeouts in all three of his starts with Houston this season. Only Nolan Ryan has struck out at least 11 batters in his first three starts with a team in MLB history.

More impressively, it took Cole just 93 pitches and seven innings to rack up those strikeouts. No pitcher has ever used so few pitches to strike out so many batters. Also, his 36 strikeouts in his first three starts with the Astros are the most by any pitcher with a new team in MLB history. Randy Johnson had the old record with 34.

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As good as Cole was though, he was much happier about the Astros win, which broke an early season two-game losing streak. Cole himself forced the Astros to break a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning after he allowed two solo home runs in the seventh.

"We just played a really great game tonight," he told reporters, via MLB.com. "We were able to get the lead back after we gave it up and it's huge when you can do that late in the game and not go into extras, and kind of finish it off."

Cole on joining Nolan Ryan as only players to strike out at least 11 in three consecutive starts to a season. pic.twitter.com/SG5LvitumD — Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 14, 2018

Cole cost himself a win by surrendering the home runs, but Marwin Gonzalez took it back with a single and two-base error courtesy of the Rangers that scored Derek Fisher from first base. Chris Devenski tallied his first save of the season to lock up the Astros' 10th win.

Studs of the Night

The Marlins just put J.B. Shuck on their active roster and he responded by going 4 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored in a 7-2 win over the Pirates.

Todd Frazier was a huge acquisition for the Mets because of his leadership and experience, but if he goes 3 for 3 with two home runs and a walk every night New York will take it. The Mets are 11-1 after a 6-5 win over the Brewers.

Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks went 2 for 3 with two home runs — one an inside-the-park thriller — and two walks in New York's 8-6 win over the Tigers.

Dud of the Night

Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman is now 0-3 on the season after a two-inning, seven-hit, six run outing in a 7-3 loss to the Red Sox.

Highlight

The Angels are off to their best start since 1979 and with plays like this one from Mike Trout they have every chance to keep their hot start going. Los Angeles came from behind to beat the Royals 5-4.

What's Next

Rockies (8-7) vs. Nationals (6-8) 1:05 p.m. ET — It's simple, Max Scherzer (2-1, 0.90 ERA) is appointment viewing. Also, with a former No. 3 overall pick in Jon Gray (1-2, 5.63 ERA) on the mound for the Rockies, there could be a lot of strikeouts racked up. Also, these are two really good teams so there's that as well.