The St. Louis Cardinals are banking on their experienced pitcher Sonny Gray to maintain his impressive form as they kick off a four-game road series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Gray, boasting a remarkable record of 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA, will square off against the Brewers’ rookie right-hander Tobias Myers (0-2, 6.23 ERA) as Milwaukee returns home for a seven-game stint. Gray’s stellar ERA in his initial five outings with the Cardinals stands as the franchise’s lowest since 1910.
Despite his standout performance, Gray faced his sole defeat of the season against the Brewers on April 21, surrendering two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings, despite tallying 12 strikeouts and just one walk.
Originally slated for Wednesday, Gray’s start was postponed due to rain, resulting in the Cardinals’ loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday. Manager Oliver Marmol indicated that they would recalibrate their rotation strategy for the upcoming games.
The Cardinals are currently grappling with a four-game losing streak, exacerbated by the loss of catcher Willson Contreras to a fractured left forearm after being struck by a swing from J.D. Martinez. Contreras, hitting .280 with six homers, was placed on the 10-day injured list, with Pedro Pages called up from Triple-A Memphis.
On the Brewers’ side, they suffered a 6-4 defeat against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, marking their fourth loss in five games. Christian Yelich’s return from the injured list provided a boost, but he went hitless in five at-bats.
Gray’s recent performance showcased his dominance, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox in a 3-0 victory. He has yet to concede a run in the first four innings of any game this season.
Marmol praised Gray’s leadership and performance, emphasizing his impact on the team. Gray holds a career record of 4-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 14 starts against the Brewers.
On the Brewers’ side, Myers endured a tough outing in his last start against the Chicago Cubs, lasting just three innings and yielding four runs, including two homers. Myers, who made his MLB debut on April 23, has struggled with control, allowing five home runs in 13 innings.
Facing the Cardinals for the first time, Myers aims to refine his performance and bounce back from recent challenges.
