The Cincinnati Reds starter Sonny Gray served yesterday and was damn good at it. He only delivered 2 ER in 7 IP against the Kansas City Royals and looked just like the tip of the rotating arm he has been since joining the Reds from the New York Yankees a few years ago.
Today, however, he made the 10-day injury list for the second time this season, this time with a reported chest strain. MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed the news, noting that Tony Santillan has been called back in his place:
Bad news for them #Red – Sonny Gray went back to the 10-day IL with a chest strain. Tony Santillan remembered.
– Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) July 8, 2021
Here is the thing. The Reds have four games left until the All Star Break, and since Sonny started yesterday, he wouldn’t start any of them. A full 10 days in the IL will include the All Star hiatus, which means he could be back from hiatus by the middle of the first series, one in GABP against the same Milwaukee Brewers club they’re against in the next four Days.
So if the injury is indeed minor, there’s a legitimate chance the Reds won’t even really need to skip his turn in the rotation. I’m not, of course, blaming the Reds for causing an injury out of nowhere or for trying to play some kind of system, just pointing out that they won’t pass when things hopefully end up being as small as possible to burn, by playing it too carefully at this point.
Hell, as Sheldon noted yesterday, Gray mentioned that from the moment he woke up before yesterday’s start he felt bad and that he felt bad, so obviously something is wrong.
For now, the Reds will get Santillan as reinforcement for their pitching staff for this important series in Milwaukee, in whatever new role he is.
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