 Complete the following phrase:  Cole was elected to his first American League All-Star appearance 2nd overall. Cole did not appear in the game but finished the first half of the season with a 102 record with a 2.52 ERA and 177 strikeouts. He finished the season with 278 strikeouts, a new career high and good for second-most in the American League behind teammate Justin Verlander, a 155 record, and a 2.88 ERA, his best since the 2015 season. He led the majors in strikeouts per 9 innings 12.40. In Game 2 of the 2018 American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, Cole struck out 12 and walked none in seven innings in a 31 victory. Cole became the second pitcher to strikeout at least 12 hitters with no walks in the postseason, after Tom Seaver in the 