Gray (8-13) took the loss Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.
The 25-year-old's only blemish occurred on his seventh pitch when Gunnar Henderson launched a leadoff solo home run. However, Gray didn't receive any run support and was saddled with the loss in what was likely to be his final start of the 2023 campaign. Over his last three outings, the righty has impressed with a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB across 17.1 innings, but he has a 1-2 record to show for it. In fact, Tuesday marked the seventh time this year that Gray came away with a loss or no-decision despite tossing five-plus innings while surrendering less than two earned runs. He'll close out his third big-league season with an 8-13 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 143:80 K:BB across 159 innings in 30 starts.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Earns eighth win
Rotowire
Gray (8-12) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over five innings against the White Sox. He struck out four.
Gray allowed just one run on the afternoon despite allowing the leadoff man to reach in three of his five innings. The right-hander was also gifted with plenty of run support early, helping him cruise to his eighth win of the season and his first since July 22. Gray came into the game having lost each of his last four decisions (spanning seven starts) but he's now allowed three runs or fewer in three consecutive outings.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Season-high 10 strikeouts in loss
Rotowire
Gray (7-12) took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits over 6.1 innings against the Pirates. He struck out 10 and did not walk a batter.
The right-hander struck out six of the first 10 batters he faced but was victimized twice by long balls, while Washington's offense was getting shut down by Mitch Keller. It was just the second time in Gray's last seven starts that he made it through six frames, while the 10 strikeouts marked his season high. However, he has lost his last four decisions and six of his last seven overall (spanning 11 starts).
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Returning to rotation Thursday
Rotowire
Gray is scheduled to return to the Washington rotation for a start Thursday against the Pirates at PNC Park.
The right-hander will return to the mound for the first time since Sept. 3 after he found himself as the odd man out of the Nationals' six-man rotation last week, when Washington played five games in a seven-day stretch. Rather than making Gray available out of the bullpen, the Nationals used the pair of off days last week to give the 25-year-old right-hander an extended breather after he had gone 0-3 with a 8.49 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 20:21 K:BB in 23.1 innings over his last six starts. Gray isn't believed to be nursing an injury and should be in store for a normal workload in his return to the rotation Thursday.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Goes four innings vs. Miami
Rotowire
Gray did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks over four innings against the Marlins. He struck out two.
Gray's struggles continued early Sunday as he allowed three runs in the opening inning, including two on a pair of bases-loaded walks. While the 25-year-old Gray ultimately blanked the Marlins over his final three innings, his ERA is now up to 8.49 over his last five starts. Overall, he's 7-11 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 122:75 K:BB across 27 starts (141.2 innings) this season. Gray's currently in line to face Pittsburgh in his next outing, though the Nats could elect to give him some extra rest between starts.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Will stay on turn Sunday
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez confirmed Thursday that Gray will start Sunday's series finale against the Marlins, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Gray yielded four earned runs over just two innings (63 pitches) in his last rotation turn Monday against the Blue Jays, but Martinez said the 25-year-old looked sharp in his between-starts bullpen session Thursday afternoon in Washington. He'll stay on turn for now, though Gray might get a bit of extra rest at certain points down the stretch.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Short night in Toronto
Rotowire
Gray (7-11) took the loss Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks over two innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out two.
After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Gray gave up four runs on three hits and two walks in the second. He'd ultimately need 63 pitches to record just six outs in the loss. It's been a tough stretch for Gray, who's struggled to an 8.84 ERA over his last five outings (19.1 innings). Overall, his ERA is up to 4.05 with a 1.48 WHIP and 120:71 K:BB across 26 starts (137.2 innings) this season. Gray will look to rebound in his next outing, currently lined up for this weekend against Miami.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Can't complete five frames
Rotowire
Gray came away with a no-decision in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander failed to complete five innings for the second straight start while issuing multiple free passes for the fourth straight, tossing 58 of 92 pitches for strikes before exiting. Gray left the mound on the hook for his 10th loss of the year, but the Nationals were able to rally in the late innings. He now carries a 4.88 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 24:16 K:BB through 31.1 innings since the beginning of July, a tough stretch for a pitcher who ended June with a 3.30 ERA. He'll look to regain his All-Star form in his next outing, which is likely to come at home early next week against the Red Sox.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Lasts 3.2 frames in loss
Rotowire
Gray (7-9) took the loss Tuesday versus Milwaukee after he gave up five runs on four hits and three walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander limited the Brewers to a single run through three frames but was unable to get through the fourth after he allowed four runs on two hits, three walks and a stolen base. The brief outing is Gray's shortest of the campaign and ended a string of 10 straight starts of at least five innings. It'ss also the third consecutive start and the 12th time this season he's issued at least three free passes, raising his BB/9 to 4.2.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Let down by offense and bullpen
Rotowire
Gray hurled six scoreless innings against the Mets on Thursday, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out four batters in a no-decision.
Gray didn't have his best control in the outing, needing 106 pitches to get through six frames and throwing 43 of them for balls. However, he did more than enough to earn a win, only to watch the team's bullpen give up the lead in the eighth inning. The 25-year-old finished July on a strong note, ending the month with two straight quality starts during which he yielded just one run over 13 frames.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Breezes to seventh victory
Rotowire
Gray (7-8) earned the win over San Francisco on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters over seven innings.
Washington staked Gray to a six-run lead after two innings, and the right-hander had no problem making it hold up, allowing just a single run over seven frames. Gray finished with his first positive outing in July -- he had yielded nine runs (seven earned) on 18 hits and five walks over 10 innings across his previous two starts. The 25-year-old's quality start Saturday was just his second over his past 11 contests, a span during which he's posted a 4.07 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 53:29 K:BB over 59.2 frames.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Allows 10 hits to Cardinals
Rotowire
Gray (6-8) took the loss Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing four runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out two in five innings.
The 10 hits allowed were a season high for Gray, and the two strikeouts matched his season low. He kept the Cardinals scoreless through three frames despite allowing two baserunners to reach in each inning before finally faltering in the fourth. Gray would go on to allow five base hits leading to three runs before surrendering a big fly to Nolan Gorman in the fifth. Gray's 3.59 ERA casts over the 1.47 WHIP and 4.85 FIP that come along with it, suggesting he's had some luck on his side this year. He averaged at least a strikeout per inning in each of his past two seasons but sits at just an 8.0 K/9 this year while his walk rate remains up from previous years. He'll look to right the ship against San Francisco this coming week.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Strikes out eight in win
Rotowire
Gray (6-6) earned the win Friday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over six innings in a 2-1 win over the Phillies. He struck out eight.
After allowing at least four runs in three of four appearances, Gray has found his groove again, giving up just one run over his last two starts (11.1 innings). The right-hander's eight strikeouts were his most since notching a season-high nine against the Mets on April 25. Overall, Gray sports a 3.30 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 86:43 K:BB across 95.1 innings, and he remains entrenched atop Washington's rotation. His next start is lined up for a home matchup against the Reds.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Bounces back Saturday
Rotowire
Gray (5-6) allowed four hits and four walks while striking out six over 5.1 shutout innings to earn the win Saturday over the Padres.
Gray had allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings. He didn't have his best stuff Saturday, throwing 58 of 99 pitches for strikes, but he successfully limited the damage to earn his first win since May 21. The 25-year-old right-hander has a lofty 4.2 BB/9, but he's been able to counter that fairly well with a 3.43 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 78:42 K:BB over 89.1 innings through 16 starts this year. Gray is projected for another road start next week in Philadelphia.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Allows season-high six runs
Rotowire
Gray (4-6) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs on nine hits and one walk over five innings against St. Louis. He struck out six.
Gray surrendered a season-high six earned runs and allowed multiple home runs for the third time over his past four starts. During that stretch, the right-hander has a 6.04 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 21:7 K:BB through 22.1 innings. The homers are a concerning trend considering Gray had given up only three long balls over his previous 10 appearances before his recent struggles. Overall, the 25-year-old's numbers are still solid (3.64 ERA and 1.39 WHIP), and he's entrenched atop the Nationals' rotation moving forward. Gray's next start lines up against the Padres this coming weekend.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Sleeper pitchers for Week 13 (June 19-25)
Rotowire
I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop for Josiah Gray, whose WHIP is bad and strikeout-to-walk ratio is worse. But since it hasn't dropped yet after nearly three months, we might as well take advantage of his two-start week against the Cardinals and Padres, at least in points leagues.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Continues to expand arsenal
Rotowire
Gray threw a sweeper 26 times in Wednesday's start against the Astros, throwing 18 strikes with the pitch and generating four swinging strikes, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The pitch is a new one for the right-hander, but it's quickly progressed from bullpen experiment to effective in-game weapon. Per Statcast, Gray had only thrown four total sweepers coming into Wednesday's start and instead had used four other pitches -- four-seam fastball, slider, curve and cutter -- more than 17 percent of the time this season while also mixing in an occasional sinker (seven percent). The 25-year-old cites pitchers like Yu Darvish and Chris Bassitt as veterans he's attempting to emulate with a more diverse arsenal, and there have been signs in 2023 the approach is working. While Gray's swinging strike rate remains basically unchanged from last year at 11.4 percent, he's generating more groundballs than ever before (42.2 percent) and has cut more than seven points off his HR/FB% (career-low 11.4 percent), pointing to a pitcher who's producing more weak contact than before. While his career-best 3.19 ERA isn't reflected in his 4.89 xFIP, Gray is taking steps toward evolving into a reliable mid-rotation arm.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Goes seven innings in no-decision
Rotowire
Gray didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits over seven innings in a 5-4 loss to the Astros. He struck out five.
Gray settled down after allowing two runs in the first inning, holding Houston off the board until he surrendered a pair of solo home runs in the fourth. Notably, it was the first time this season that Gray didn't issue a walk. The 25-year-old right-hander is 4-5 with a solid 3.19 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 66:37 K:BB across 14 starts (79 innings) this season. Gray's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Cardinals in his next outing.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Gives up four runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Gray did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in an 8-7 win over the Phillies. He struck out four.
Gray's four earned runs were the most he's allowed since giving up five during his season debut versus Atlanta. Overall, the right-hander's 3.09 ERA looks solid, but his 55:33 K:BB and 1.42 WHIP across 67 innings are less than ideal. Regardless, Gray is locked in at the top of Washington's rotation and is projected to pitch again during the finale of a three-game set versus Arizona.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Short outing Saturday
Rotowire
Gray did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over four innings during a 4-2 win over the Royals. He struck out four.
Gray needed 91 pitches (57 strikes) to make it through a season-low four innings Saturday. He continues to struggle with walks, allowing multiple free passes in six straight games, but despite a less-than-ideal 26:21 K:BB during that stretch (34 innings), he has served up only 10 earned runs. Since giving up five runs in his first appearance of the year, Gray has surrendered two or fewer runs in nine of his last 10 outings and sports a 2.77 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 51:31 K:BB on the season.
