Gray (5-1) allowed one run on four hits and a walk over seven innings Friday, striking out eight and earning a win over Baltimore.
After allowing a solo homer to Adley Rutschman in the first inning, Gray was nearly untouchable. He cruised through seven frames en route to a dominant 12-2 Rangers victory. Gray's been lights out over his last four starts, yielding just three runs with a 27:5 K:BB in 27 frames while earning a win in each outing. The veteran righty lowered his season ERA to 2.81 and has won five consecutive decisions since losing his season debut. Gray is currently projected for a matchup in Detroit next week.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Cruises to fourth win
Rotowire
Gray (4-1) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over five innings in an 11-5 victory over the Rockies. He struck out six.
The right-hander wasn't particularly efficient in a matchup with his former club, needing 93 pitches (63 strikes) to barely qualify for the win, but the Rangers handed Gray an 8-0 lead after two innings and the outcome was never really in doubt. The 31-year-old has won three straight starts, giving up just two runs in 20 innings over that stretch with a 19:4 K:BB, and he'll try to stay locked in when he next takes the mound, which is likely to come in Baltimore next weekend.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Sleeper pitchers for Week 8 (May 15-21)
Rotowire
Gray seemed to find his slider two starts ago, enjoying a big velocity jump and a season high in swinging strikes, and the velocity remained up in his latest start against the Athletics. As such, you'll want him active for a home start against the Rockies.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Revamped slider working
Rotowire
Gray said a mechanical tweak to his slider, designed to give the pitch a "sharper break," is the main reason for a scoreless streak that reached 14.2 innings Saturday, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Gray tinkered with the new slider mechanics in spring training but ditched it for the sweeper version of the pitch that acts more like a curveball. The right-hander brought back the "sharper" slider against the Mariners his last time out, and the velocity numbers reflect the change. The pitch averaged 87 mph Saturday, nearly three mph faster than its season average.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Tosses eight scoreless innings
Rotowire
Gray (3-1) earned the win Saturday, allowing three hits and two walks over eight scoreless innings against Oakland. He struck out five.
Gray picked up his second straight quality start, blanking the lowly Athletics across eight innings after allowing one run over seven innings in his previous start. Though the 31-year-old has strung together a pair of strong performances and has yet to allow more than four runs in a start, Gray sports only a 6.31 K/9 so far, down from his 2022 average of 9.47 K/9 and 2021 average of 9.48 K/9 while giving up 1.39 HR/9, which would match his career high. Gray has had significantly more success against right-handed hitting, allowing a slash line of .212/.278/.364 compared to a .275/.366/.478 to lefties.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Pitches gem in win
Rotowire
Gray (2-1) earned the win Monday, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings against Seattle. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Gray had his best start of the year on Monday, setting new season highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. This appearance was also the first time that the right-hander did not issue a free pass. The former Rockie is off to a solid start overall, posting a 3.82 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. If the 31-year-old keeps pitching at this level, he'll have a chance to author one of the best seasons of his career.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Sleeper pitchers for Week 7 (May 8-14)
Rotowire
Gray has been even more disappointing than Andrew Heaney so far, completely underwhelming in the strikeout department. But if everything was going swimmingly, he wouldn't be eligible here, would he? He'll at least have a strong offense backing him in a week when he's scheduled to face two weak ones (Mariners, Athletics).
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Knocked around
Rotowire
Gray did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.1 innings in a 6-4 win over Arizona. He struck out two.
All four runs Gray allowed came in the first three innings. He settled down to retire 10 of the last 11 batters he faced and rescue what could have been a disastrous start. The 31-year-old struck out just two batters, continuing a concerning trend. Gray, who has averaged more than a strikeout per inning in his career, has 19 strikeouts in 30.2 innings in 2023.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Decent in no-decision
Rotowire
Gray did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Reds. He struck out two.
Gray allowed a pair of runs in the second inning and another in the fifth but managed to escape further damage, logging his second quality start through five outings this season. The veteran right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 17:13 K:BB. While he's posted decent ratios, Gray's K-rate is down to 18.3% from 25.7% last season and he's currently sitting with a career-worst 13.4% walk rate.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Yields four runs
Rotowire
Gray allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and five walks over 5.1 innings in Friday's loss to Oakland. He struck out two and did not factor in the decision.
Gray cruised through three shutout frames without much pushback from Oakland but coughed up one run in the fourth inning followed by two more in the fifth, including a solo homer by Tony Kemp. Gray was charged with one more run in the sixth following his removal after 92 pitches. His K:BB now sits at a lackluster 15:11 with a 3.72 ERA across 19.1 innings. Gray is lined up to take the mound in Cincinnati next week.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Lined up to start Friday
Rotowire
Gray (elbow) is listed as the Rangers' probable starter for Friday's game against the Athletics at Globe Life Field.
Unless his bruised right elbow/forearm presented unexpected discomfort during the bullpen session he threw Wednesday, Gray should be on tap for a normal workload Friday after his previous start last Saturday in Houston was cut short when he was hit by a comebacker. Through his first three starts of 2023, Gray has gone 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB over 14 frames.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Preparing for bullpen session
Rotowire
Gray (elbow) played catch on consecutive days and is expected to throw an in-between starts bullpen session Wednesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
The news couldn't be any better for Gray, who was smoked last Saturday by a 109.3 mph comebacker off his throwing elbow. After reporting minimal pain and playing catch Sunday and Monday, the right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen Wednesday ahead of Friday's start against the Athletics.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Anticipates normal schedule
Rotowire
Gray (elbow) said he was essentially pain free and is expected to throw his in-between starts bullpen session Wednesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "I really think I dodged a bullet," Gray said. "I came out of it less sore than I thought I'd be."
Gray intended to play catch Sunday and again Monday before Wednesday's bullpen. If all goes well, the right-hander is planned to start Friday against Oakland, which ranks 26th in OPS (.683).
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Not expected to miss next start
Rotowire
Gray (forearm) told reporters Saturday that he does not expected to miss his next turn in the rotation, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Gray was hit in the right forearm on a line drive off the bat from Yainer Diaz and had to be removed in the third inning against the Astros. Examination revealed just a bruise for the 31-year-old right-hander, and while the situation could change depending on swelling and how Gray feels in the coming days, it appears he's avoided an injury that would require a trip to the injured list.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Leaves with right forearm bruise
Rotowire
Gray was diagnosed with a right forearm bruise after leaving Saturday's start against the Astros, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Gray was struck in the arm on a liner off the bat by Yainer Diaz, and the right-hander was unable to continue. He should be considered day-to-day for now, but it appears to be good news that there doesn't seem to be structural damage for Gray at this point.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Leaves start with injury
Rotowire
Gray left Saturday's start against the Astros after being struck by a comebacker, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. He allowed one run on a hit and a walk over two innings with two strikeouts before exiting.
Gray was hit by a Yainer Diaz line drive and immediately exited the contest. Cole Ragans took over for the right-hander. It's likely Gray will undergo imaging before the Rangers announce the specifics on why he exited the contest.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Picks up first win
Rotowire
Gray (1-1) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over the Cubs.
The 31-year-old old righty danced around trouble a few times, and the only damage against him was Edwin Rios' two-run shot in the fourth inning. Gray has allowed four runs with an 11:5 K:BB through 12 innings this season. He forced 10 swinging strikes Sunday, including four with his fastball that topped out at 96.2 mph. Gray is projected to start in Houston next weekend.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Let down by offense
Rotowire
Gray (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 6.1 innings Monday, striking out seven and taking a loss against Baltimore.
Gray was on the wrong side of a one-hitter and fell to 0-1 right out of the gate with a tough-luck loss. He rolled through three scoreless innings before coughing up solo shots to Gunnar Henderson and Jorge Mateo in the fourth and fifth frames, respectively. Gray forced 13 swinging strikes, including six with the slider. He's lined up for a road start against the Cubs this weekend.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Throws four relief innings
Rotowire
Gray allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven over four relief innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Royals.
Gray followed fellow starter Martin Perez, who worked five innings. The former threw an efficient 61 pitches, then stayed on the mound and faced Rangers hitters for about 10 minutes following the game. The right-hander will make his first regular-season start Monday at home against the Orioles.
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Rangers' Jon Gray: Continues scoreless spring
Rotowire
Gray allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over four scoreless innings in Thursday's spring start against the Dodgers.
After being scratched from his second scheduled Cactus League start due to back tightness, Gray has put together seven scoreless innings over two starts. He's yet to allow a run over nine spring innings. The 31-year-old right-hander will not be tasked with being the team's ace, as he was in 2022, which could work in his favor.
