Gray (1-1) earned the win in Tuesday's 7-1 victory over Washington after allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out three batters across eight innings.
Gray gave up an RBI single to Luis Garcia in the first inning to put the Rangers behind early, but that would end up being the only blemish on his record. His three strikeouts weren't consistent with the rates fantasy managers have come to expect out of the 32-year-old righty, but he still managed to completely shut down the Nationals' bats nonetheless. Ever since being lit up for five runs in 3.2 innings during his season debut in March, Gray has posted a 1.24 ERA alongside a 33:8 K:BB across 29 innings. He'll look to extend his hot streak during his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come in Kansas City on Sunday.
Rangers' Jon Gray: Falls short of qualifying for win
Rotowire
Gray allowed one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Wednesday.
Gray pitched well as a starter four days after making a surprise 1.2-inning relief appearance against Atlanta, but he was pulled with two runners on base and two outs in the fifth after having thrown 92 pitches. Texas was up 2-1 at the time, so the ill-timed hook cost him a chance at earning his first win of 2024. Nonetheless, this was another positive outing for the right-hander, who has now given up one or fewer earned runs in each of his past five trips to the mound (including the relief outing).
Rangers' Jon Gray: Makes surprise relief appearance
Rotowire
Gray struck out four over 1.2 scoreless relief innings in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta.
As the Rangers approached the end of the stretch that includes 17 games in 17 days, manager Bruce Bochy made note of the team's thin bullpen and a possible surprise entering Saturday's game, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. That surprise turned out to be Gray, a starter, pitching in relief. Gray is slated to start Tuesday, and Saturday lined up to be his in-between starts side session.
Gray didn't factor in the decision Tuesday against the Tigers after he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander recorded 17 swinging strikes on 97 pitches as he delivered his first quality start of the campaign. Gray lasted just 7.1 frames and allowed seven runs (five earned) in his first two outings, but he's pitched well in his past two starts with a 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB over 11 innings. He's still in search of his first win of the year and tentatively lines up for a home matchup with the Mariners early next week.
Gray (0-1) took the loss against Oakland on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out nine batters over five innings.
Gray yielded seven runs (five earned) over 7.1 innings across his first two starts of the campaign but managed to emerge without a loss on his record. Naturally, he took defeat for the first time Thursday in what was easily his best outing of the season, as he gave up just one run (on a Seth Brown solo homer) and punched out a campaign-high nine batters while inducing 13 swinging strikes. The outing at least gave Gray's fantasy managers a reason to hope for better days moving forward after his poor initial pair of starts, and he'll look to build on Thursday's performance in his next outing, which projects to be another good matchup versus Detroit next week.
Gray took a no-decision Saturday, yielding two unearned runs on five hits and three walks over 3.2 innings against the Astros. He struck out three.
A Corey Seager fielding error meant Gray's ERA went down after this one, but he labored through the night, needing a whopping 84 pitches to cover his 3.2 frames. It's the second straight clunker to begin the season for Gray, who has recorded just 11 outs in both outings. The Rangers' bullpen picked Gray up Saturday, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings while the offense came alive late to secure a victory.
Gray tossed 3.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out two batters in Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.
Gray made his return to the mound after missing his final outing of the spring with a stiff neck, struggling to find any groove against Chicago. The right-hander gave up a three-run homer to Christopher Morel in the first inning. He later allowed three straight batters to reach base in the fourth inning, giving up two more runs and ultimately exiting the game with two outs in the frame. Gray will look to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively set to be Saturday at home versus the Astros.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jon Gray: Confirmed for Sunday's start
Rotowire
Gray (neck) will start Sunday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Gray failed to make his last start of the exhibition campaign due to a stiff neck, but the issue won't cost him any time to begin the regular season. He threw five innings March 14, so while his workload may be monitored, he shouldn't have significant limitations in his season debut Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jon Gray: Dealing with neck stiffness
Rotowire
Gray didn't pitch as scheduled Tuesday due to a stiff neck, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Gray will throw a bullpen session Wednesday instead, and his neck shouldn't cause his regular-season debut to be delayed. The 32-year-old righty had a great spring, throwing eight scoreless innings over two starts while striking out seven batters and walking two.
Gray allowed three hits and struck out three over five scoreless innings in Thursday's spring start against Cincinnati.
Gray is healthy and was locked in for a second straight Cactus League start. Needing to get his pitch count up, Gray threw additional pitches in the bullpen after he was removed. He's yet to give up a run over eight innings in his two starts. The only run allowed this spring was in an intrasquad game, when Evan Carter took Gray deep.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jon Gray: Makes spring debut
Rotowire
Gray allowed one hit and two walks while striking out four over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the White Sox.
Gray made his Cactus League debut after throwing two innings in an intrasquad game earlier in the week. He breezed through the first two innings, retiring all six batters faced, before pitching into a jam in the third. The right-hander managed to extricate himself from the one-out, bases-loaded situation. Gray told Matthew Postins of SI.com that he ran into trouble with the pitch clock, which contributed to the jam. He also noted the forearm issues that forced him to the injured list late last season are in the past. Gray engaged in an offseason workout program designed to strengthen his arm.
