What It Means:

Cole returned from the disabled list Monday and was promptly tagged for five earned runs over just two frames in a 6-2 losing effort to the lowly Philadelphia Phillies. With a 69-73 record on the year, the Pirates don't want to push the issue as Cole is still dealing with trouble in his right elbow. The right-handed ace will enter the offseason in rehab mode with the hopes of beginning the 2017 campaign at full strength.

It has been a rough year for Cole, whose 3.88 ERA, 4.25 SIERA, 19.4 percent strikeout rate and 7.1 percent walk rate are all career-worsts. He'll finish with a 7-10 record across 21 starts (116 innings pitched).