Washington Nationals: 5 to watch in Oakland
By Ron Juckett
SONNY GRAY
You could make a reality show out of all the times teams have asked about or had Sonny Gray dangled in front of them.
Still just 27 and under team control through 2020, Gray will spend the next eight weeks wondering if he will need to fill out change of address cards as Oakland ponders what to do. After a bad 2016, he bounced back this year to get back on the radar.
Over six starts, he is 2-2 with an ERA of 4.72. That number is misleading to a degree as his FIP is 4.00 and the WHIP is 1.252. Not as good as his third-place Cy Young effort of 2015—1.082, if you are wondering—but better than last year’s 1.496.
Before getting shellacked by the Cleveland Indians on Monday for seven runs over 4.2 innings, Gray’s ERA was 3.34. His last home start came on May 24 against Miami where he dazzled. Fanning 11 over seven innings, he held the Marlins to three hits a run and a walk.
Gray gets the call Sunday with scouts in attendance. Although Washington is not actively shopping for another starter, you never know.
This is not Gray’s first start against the Nats. In 2014, he threw seven innings of six-hit ball drawing no decision. Over 29 batters, he struck out three and walked two.