Rosenthal: Braves interested in Sonny Gray

Meant to be tired after the Red Sox’s travel woes between Thursday and Friday, Gray lulled the Mets to sleep here. He didn’t have anything close to his best swing-and-miss stuff and only forced two whiffs, but showed great command of his sinker and used it to wriggle out of a few jams with some timely double plays. After this excellent start, he’ll close the first half with a 2.54 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 24 walks across 95 2/3 innings. That is the lowest ERA by a qualified pitcher that did not make either All-Star team.

Sonny Gray has a no trade clause and has been really good for a Boston team that is only four games out of the Wild Card in the American League, so he shouldn’t be viewed as a slam dunk trade candidate. In addition to that, as Passan notes, his contract is a potential probably because, in addition to his $10 million salary over the final two months of th eseason, his restructed contract includes a $10 million buyout on a $30 million mutual option for 2027. That leaves “Boston somewhat hamstrung unless it’s willing to pay down a significant portion and convince Gray to accept a deal.”

Gray scattered four hits, with one of those being a solo homer by Josh Lowe. He struck out seven against two walks, and he found the zone on 48-of-70 pitches. It wasn’t quite as good as the no-hit bid he had in his previous outing against New York, but it’s another solid outing that sees Gray lower his ERA to 2.61 with a deserved 10-1 record. We’re just as confused as everyone else how that’s not an All-Star, but he’ll make his final start before the break against the Mets on Friday.

Gray was removed immediately after Amed Rosario’s single up the middle with one out in the eighth. Tyron Guerrero replaced him and got out of the inning from there. It’s the deepest Gray has ever carried a no-no, and his ninth and final strikeout of the night gave him 2,000 for his career. He’s tied with Andy Benes on the all-time list there, having passed Billy Pierce and Kevin Appier tonight. He’s seventh among active pitchers in strikeouts and fifth with 134 victories. He’ll face the Angels next weekend.

Gray was excellent against the Rockies in Coors Field, holding them to one run over seven frames. The lone run came on a solo homer by Willi Castro in the second inning. He scattered five other hits and three walks, limiting damage by punching out 11 batters. The 36-year-old right-hander will take a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 66/20 K/BB ratio across 76 1/3 innings into a start against the Yankees in Boston on Sunday.

Homers from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first and Nathan Lukes in the seventh bookended the outing. Gray allowed six hits, walked one and struck out four. It’s his sixth quality start in his last seven tries, though the Red Sox fell to 9-4 in his starts. He’ll face the Rockies in Coors Field next week, but he still seems like a solid enough play. It’ll be just his second career start there; he allowed one run over seven innings and struck out nine while pitching for the Reds there in 2019.

The Rangers put up three hits on Gray in the first inning, with the first run coming around to score on an RBI single by Wyatt Langford. It would be the only run Gray would allow on the night, as the veteran righty locked in to fire five-straight scoreless frames while allowing just two hits and no free passes. Gray has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight straight starts and has made it through six innings in five of those outings. He remains as reliable an option as any and is scheduled to make his next start on Thursday at home against the Blue Jays.

He was facing the Bombers in Yankee Stadium for the first time since an offseason interview about how much he dislikes his former team. Gray gave up two homers and six other hits while allowing two walks and striking out only three, but he really limited the damage in improving to 7-1 with a 3.20 ERA on the year. A couple of double plays, one on a Paul Goldschmidt grounder and another on an Anthony Volpe liner, helped there. Gray due to face the Rays in St. Pete next week.

The run came right away on back-to-back doubles from Travis Bazzana and José Ramírez to start the first, but it was smooth sailing after that. Gray fanned seven, including six with his sweeper. He’ll take a 3.06 ERA into his next start, which should be a fun one. He’ll pitch in Yankee Stadium for the first time since talking in a December interview about how much he hates the Yankees.

Gray gave up six hits, walked two and struck out four. He threw 75 pitches and was removed after four innings. Danny Coulombe started the fifth inning. Gray struck out nine batters in his last start, flashing the upside he’s had over the course of his career. He hasn’t gone more than six innings in any of his nine starts this year and has thrown 70-80 pitches in each of his last four starts. Gray is lined up to face the Guardians on the road next weekend.