Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Dominates Bucs for fourth win
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Gray (4-1) picked up the win Wednesday, scattering two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory. He struck out eight.
In his best performance of the season so far, Gray only allowed one baserunner to get into scoring position, and that came when a catcher's interference call put Andrew McCutchen on board after what would have been strike three in the fourth inning. Gray racked up 30 called or swinging strikes over 89 pitches (60 total strikes) in his fourth quality start of the year, and he'll take a 3.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:11 K:BB through 46.1 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Philadelphia.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Handed first loss by Mets
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Gray (3-1) took the loss Friday as the Cardinals fell 9-3 to the Mets, coughing up six runs (four earned) on nine hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.
A Willson Contreras error didn't help matters, but Gray was headed to one of his worst outings of the season even if the St. Louis defense had been airtight. The veteran righty has given up double-digit baserunners in back-to-back trips to the mound, and Pete Alonso's two-run shot in the fifth inning was the sixth homer Gray has served up this year in 39.1 innings. He'll carry a 4.12 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Nationals.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Quality start in no-decision
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Gray picked up a no-decision in Saturday's 6-5 win over Milwaukee, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out four.
Despite not having his sharpest stuff, the veteran right-hander bagged his third consecutive quality start in this 91-pitch outing. Gray worked around seven hits and three walks, both of which marked season worsts for the 35-year-old. He has pitched to a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 33:7 K:BB across 35 innings this season. Gray currently lines up to make his next start against the Mets at home next weekend.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Quality start versus NYM
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Gray pitched six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six batters in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Mets. He did not factor into the decision.
Gray was bit by the home run bug in the bottom of the first inning, giving up a leadoff solo shot to Francisco Lindor. He then gave up another run in the third frame before the final run on his ledger scored on an RBI single by Pete Alonso in the bottom of the fifth. Gray has now produced back-to-back quality starts, combining to pitch 13 innings of three-run ball. On the season, the right-hander has compiled a 3.41 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 29 strikeouts over 29 innings in five starts. Gray's next projected start is set to come Saturday at home against Milwaukee.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Fires seven scoreless frames in win
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Gray (3-0) earned the win over Houston on Monday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out four batters over seven scoreless innings.
Gray experienced very little pressure in the outing, as only one Astros batter reached second base while he was in the game. The veteran right-hander was efficient in getting through his seven frames on just 92 pitches, as he mostly pitched to contact, registering a modest six whiffs. Gray is off to a 3-0 record to begin the campaign, and he's allowed two or fewer runs in three of his four outings so far. He'll look to keep rolling his next time out, which is lined up to be a tough road matchup against the Mets this weekend.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Grabs win over Pirates
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Gray (2-0) got the win Tuesday against the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four over five innings. He did not issue a walk.
Gray had three strikeouts over his first two frames and cruised along from there, mostly pitching to weak contact the rest of the way. His lone blemish was allowing a solo home run to Bryan Reynolds in the fourth, and Gray's day ended rather abruptly after 71 pitches. He's now allowed a home run in all three of his starts but also boasts an impressive 19:2 K:BB in 16 innings thus far. Gray will look to pick up his third win early next week at home versus the Astros.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Fans nine in no-decision
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Gray didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, coughing up five runs on five hits over six-plus innings in a 12-5 win over the Angels. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander tossed 61 of 88 pitches for strikes, but he eventually got punished for living in the strike zone, as Logan O'Hoppe slugged a grand slam off Gray before he could record an out in the top of the seventh inning. The Cardinals' offense quickly took him off the hook for the loss, however. Gray has a 15:2 K:BB through his first 11 innings this season, but that comes with a 5.73 ERA thanks to three homers allowed. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound on the road early next week in Pittsburgh.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Steady in Opening Day victory
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Gray (1-0) allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six across five innings to earn the win Thursday against the Twins.
Gray was battling an illness late in spring training that had caused him to lose strength, though he didn't show any signs of weakness on Opening Day. He generated 11 called strikes and 12 swinging strikes across 77 total pitches, and the lone blemish on his box score came on a two-run homer by Harrison Bader in the fifth frame. Gray could lose some of the swing-and-miss stuff he showcased Thursday in his age-35 campaign, but he should remain a reliable starter for fantasy purposes.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Ready to go for opener
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Gray (illness) will make his scheduled Opening Day start Thursday against the Twins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Gray dealt with the flu for a week that sapped him of some strength and might have contributed to his decreased velocity this spring. However, he's feeling better and has been cleared to take the ball for the opener. The veteran right-hander held a 3.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 203:39 K:BB across 28 starts during his first season in St. Louis in 2024.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Has been battling flu
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Gray has been battling the flu recently, which has sapped him of his strength, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
It could help explain why Gray's velocity has been down this spring, though the righty suspects that starting his offseason throwing program later than usual also played a part. Gray said Monday that he's feeling better, and it does not seem as though his availability for Opening Day on Thursday is in question.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Struggling with velocity, results
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Gray acknowledged Friday that his velocity has been down this spring, but he says he's healthy, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
The 35-year-old ended last season on the injured list with right forearm flexor tendinitis and revealed Friday that he received a pain-killing injection at the time that delayed his offseason throwing program. He insists that his pitching arm is now fine physically, but the delayed throwing could be the cause for his velocity being down. Gray averaged just 90.6 mph with his four-seamer in Friday's start versus the Astros, which is down nearly two mph from last season's mark. The right-hander allowed five runs over 4.2 innings in the outing and now holds a 12.56 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts. For what it's worth, Gray said Friday of his velocity that "I still think that will come," per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Confirmed as Opening Day starter
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Manager Oliver Marmol announced Sunday that Gray will start Opening Day against the Twins on March 27, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
It's hardly a surprise that the veteran right-hander will be leading the St. Louis rotation, but the skipper made it official Sunday. Gray had a 3.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 203:39 K:BB across 166.1 innings last season, though his two spring starts have been a bit bumpy with five homers allowed.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Allows three homers in spring debut
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Gray was tagged for three solo home runs across 2.2 frames Wednesday versus the Astros in his Grapefruit League debut.
Gray was facing a lineup comprised mostly of Houston regulars, and Jeremy Pena, Jake Meyers and Jose Altuve all got to him for long balls. On a positive note, the veteran righty recorded three strikeouts on the day and didn't issue a walk. Gray is likely to be the Cardinals' Opening Day starter March 27 against the Twins, although manager Oliver Marmol hasn't officially named him as such yet.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Expected to have normal offseason
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Gray is on track have a normal offseason after finishing the regular season on the 15-day injured list with right forearm flexor tendinitis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Gray missed his final start of the season because of the forearm issue, but his offseason training is expected to be unaffected. The right-hander held a 3.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 203:39 K:BB across 28 regular-season starts during his first year in St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Final start iffy due to soreness
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Gray said he pitched through some "lingering" soreness during Wednesday's start against the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Gray didn't divulge any specifics regarding where he's feeling sore, only saying that he "didn't feel great in general, physically" due to "some lingering things just kind of going on through the week." The righty struck out eight and was charged with four runs over 5.2 innings versus the Pirates in Wednesday's outing. Gray will throw a bullpen session this weekend before it's determined whether he'll make one more start or shut things down. If he does make one final start, it's tentatively lined up to come at Coors Field.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Fans eight in no-decision
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Gray did not factor into the decision in a win over the Pirates on Wednesday, allowing four runs on nine hits and no walks over 5.2 innings while striking out eight.
Gray kept the Pirates at bay over the first three innings before surrendering back-to-back doubles to lead off the fourth, which would lead to two runs coming across for Pittsburgh. The veteran right-hander was later relieved by Matthew Liberatore in the sixth after the former allowed two-consecutive singles with two outs. Unfortunately for Gray, he would then see his chances for a win get washed away as Liberatore coughed up a three-run shot to the first batter he faced. Gray failed to make it through six frames Wednesday for the first time in his last five starts, though he did generate 16 whiffs en route to posting seven or more strikeouts for the third straight outing. He now carries a 2.89 ERA through three starts in September to go along with a dominant 24:3 K:BB.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Picks up 13th win
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Gray (13-9) earned the win Thursday over the Reds, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine.
It was another excellent outing from Gray -- the right-hander's now held opponents to one run in each of his last three starts (19 innings) while posting a 20:3 K:BB in that span. The veteran right-hander's lowered his ERA to 3.75 on the year with a 1.07 WHIP and 195 strikeouts (10 shy of a career high) across 160.2 innings. Gray will look to keep rolling his next time out, currently scheduled as a home matchup with the Pirates next week.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Excellent in no-decision
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Gray allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over seven innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Gray didn't allow a run until the seventh inning, and he departed the contest holding a 2-1 lead. However, St. Louis' bullpen coughed up the tying run in the eighth, preventing Gray from notching a second straight victory. Despite that disappointment, it was a strong outing by the veteran right-hander, as he completed seven frames for the first time since Aug. 6. Gray has surrendered just two runs over his past 13 innings spanning two starts to bring his season ERA down to 3.84.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Loses third straight start
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Gray (11-9) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings to take the loss versus the Twins on Saturday.
Trevor Larnach hit a pair of home runs off Gray, accounting for four of the five runs on the right-hander's line. It was a third straight loss for Gray, who has given up 13 runs across 16 innings with a 22:7 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's now at a 4.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 175:36 K:BB through 141.2 innings over 24 starts. Gray will look to right the ship in his next start, which is projected to be at home versus the Padres.
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Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Fans six in loss
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Gray (11-8) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings Sunday, striking out six and taking a loss against the Dodgers.
Gray danced around a few threats through four shutout frames before allowing a pair of runs in the fifth inning. He's been tagged for eight runs in 10 innings over his last two starts, bumping his season ERA from 3.72 to 3.91. Sunday also marked the first time he lost a second straight start since June 6. Gray produced a 2.81 ERA through 14 starts but has registered an unsightly 5.68 ERA in nine starts since then. His next outing is projected to be in Minnesota.