The Red Sox have been tearing it up lately, winning 11 of their last 13 games and sweeping three of their four most recent series. But there’s a catch – they lost starter Ranger Suarez to the IL during their series against the Angels.
Now that Suarez is out, the MLB has a chance to fix what looks like a pretty glaring omission from the All-Star roster. Sonny Gray should be the obvious replacement.
Gray’s Been Boston’s Best Pitcher
Since late April, when Garrett Crochet went down, Gray’s essentially been the Red Sox ace. The numbers tell the story: 10-1 record, 2.61 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.104 WHIP over 89 innings.
That’s a complete turnaround from last season. Gray looks like a different pitcher entirely.
So when the All-Star rosters came out and he wasn’t on there? It didn’t make much sense.
The Selection Process Missed
Look at some of the pitchers who made it over Gray. Michael Wacha got selected with a 5-6 record and 3.45 ERA. Even Suarez, while solid, was 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA when he got picked.
Now, Suarez’s selection wasn’t totally out of left field. He got snubbed last year despite going 7-3 with a 2.15 ERA before the break, and this year’s game is in Philadelphia where he used to play. That narrative probably helped his case.
But Gray’s been the better pitcher this season, and it’s not particularly close.
The Perfect Opportunity
When an All-Star gets hurt, the replacement usually comes from the same team – especially if there’s someone with comparable production who got overlooked. Gray fits that perfectly.
This would be his fourth All-Star appearance, and honestly, he’s probably been the best pitcher left off the original roster anyway.
The MLB should announce Gray as Suarez’s replacement soon. It’s the right call, and it fixes a mistake that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
What makes this whole situation even better for Gray is the timing. The Red Sox are playing their best baseball of the season, and their acting ace finally gets the recognition he’s earned.
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