Scouting Report: Tristan Gray

Summary

Sonny Gray, a 36-year-old veteran right-handed pitcher acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason, suffered a right hamstring strain on April 20 during a Patriots' Day game against the Tigers. He was placed on the 15-day injured list but has progressed well through his rehab, including a successful bullpen session on April 27 and a three-inning simulated game on Friday. Gray was reinstated from the IL on Wednesday to start against Detroit. Through his first five starts before the injury, Gray posted a 4.30 ERA. Since returning, he has compiled a 4-1 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 21:8 K:BB ratio as of mid-May. However, advanced metrics reveal concerning underlying statistics: his Expected ERA (xERA) is 5.16, his FIP is 4.18, his BABIP is .285, and his LOB% is 78.5%, suggesting his strong surface ERA is being aided by favorable defensive support and luck that may not sustain.