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The shift in Gerrit Cole's pitch usage began in Pittsburgh. In Houston, he's seeing the payoff.

WASHINGTON — The Houston Astros dominated the outside wall of Nationals Park’s 200 level Monday afternoon. Six players from the organization, which won the 2017 World Series, made the American League All-Star team, and temporary lighting flanked the sides of their daises to aid the throngs of cameras.

To the left was Charlie Morton, who joined the organization before the 2017 season, and had his most successful year to date, recording the final 12 outs of Game 7 of the World Series. In the middle, Justin Verlander, the longtime Detroit Tigers ace who has shoved since joining the Astros in a waiver trade last August.