Sonny Gray looks great for the Red Sox, but keep the caution on standby

"A big part of better turns through the rotation lately comes from a solid run of starts from Sonny Gray. His ERA didn't jump off the page from his final years in St. Louis, but his metrics were encouraging to the point that the Red Sox made the move to trade for him this winter. He didn't have his rhythm immediately in April and spent some time on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Gray clearly found something in his return as he's allowed just one earned run in 11 innings since his activation off the injured list."

"The veteran right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA through his first seven starts in a Red Sox uniform. He's settled into a role without the pressure to lead a return. Crochet will be back and Ranger Suarez also started to throw the ball exceptionally well in recent weeks. As a result, Gray can be himself and go to work on the mound."

"With that said, two metrics for Gray are worth keeping an eye on if his production slips this summer. Gray's K/9 sits at 5.8 after his most recent start. For reference, he struck out at least 10 per nine innings in each of his final two seasons with the Cardinals. The Boston starter also holds an ERA-FIP gap of 1.01 (4.19 FIP). No need for real concern yet, just something to monitor as the season develops closer to hitter-friendly environments."

"Obviously, none of the rotation growth matters if the Red Sox don't start scoring more runs. In the meantime, the Gray trade looks strong for the health of the pitching staff in 2026."

The Red Sox rotation has begun pitching closer to expectations built during the offseason, even with Garrett Crochet still recovering from left shoulder inflammation. Sonny Gray has provided a major boost through a run of strong starts, leading to his winter trade acquisition. After lacking rhythm in April and spending time on the injured list with a hamstring strain, Gray has allowed only one earned run in 11 innings since returning. He is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA in his first seven starts. With Crochet returning later and Ranger Suarez pitching well, Gray can pitch without added pressure. Monitoring his K/9 and ERA-FIP gap is recommended if results decline, and improved run scoring remains essential for overall success.

Read at Over the Monster