Sonny Gray’s All-Star case only got stronger when Ranger Suarez landed on the injured list, and now the league has a clean chance to fix one of its biggest roster misses.
The Boston Red Sox have been rolling lately, sweeping three of their last four series and winning 11 of their last 13 games. But that hot stretch came with a setback in their second-to-last series against the Los Angeles Angels, when they lost another starting pitcher to the IL in Suarez.
Suarez’s absence matters for Boston, but it also opens the door for the MLB to adjust its All-Star roster. Suarez was one of Boston’s three All-Stars this season, joining Aroldis Chapman and Willson Contreras. With him out, the obvious injury replacement should be Gray, Boston’s acting ace.
Gray has been on heater
Since late April, Gray has filled the ace role after Garrett Crochet went on the IL, and he has been excellent. Over 89 innings pitched, he has gone 10-1 with a 2.61 ERA, 82 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.104.
That production looks even more striking when stacked against what he did last year. It also makes his omission from the roster after the MLB filled in the gaps post fan vote even harder to understand.
Gray is one of the All-Star Game’s biggest snubs
The decision to leave Gray out never really added up. The league went with former Boston-turned-Kansas City pitcher Michael Wacha, who is 5-6 with a 3.45 ERA, instead of Gray.
Even Suarez getting the nod over Gray raised eyebrows on the numbers alone. Suarez is 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA. Still, there was some logic behind that selection because Suarez had been snubbed last year, when he was 7-3 with a 2.15 ERA before the break, and this year’s game is being played at his old team’s home, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Now the MLB can make it right
When an All-Star has to be replaced because of injury, the league usually turns to a teammate who has been performing at a similar level that season. By that standard, Gray is the natural pick. He also happens to be one of the best pitchers not selected in the first place.
If the league wants to correct the mistake, it should move quickly and announce Gray as a replacement. That would give him what would be his fourth All-Star appearance.
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