The right-hander, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason, has been everything that Boston could have hoped for.
The Boston Red Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 on Friday night at Fenway Park, winning the first game of the Rafael Devers reunion series.
With the win, Boston is now 69-59 on the campaign. They are in firm grasp of the second wild card spot in the American League, and they are four games behind the New York Yankees for the top overall wild card spot.
Trying to get that top spot is important, as that means the Red Sox would get the wild card series at home.
Willson Contreras hit a mammoth home run in the victory while Sonny Gray earned the win on the mound. It wasn't the most efficient outing for Gray, who gave up four earned runs over six innings, but he battled through to move to 16-3 on the year.
Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last offseason, Gray has been everything the Red Sox could have wanted - and more. He's helped affirm Craig Breslow's "pitching and defense" strategy while registering a 2.79 ERA.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park. Paul Rutherford-Imagn ImagesAs stated by Sox Notes, Gray and Tim Wakefield are the only Sox hurlers in the last 50 years to win at least 16 of their first 24 starts with Boston. Wakefield, one of the most beloved Red Sox figures of the last 40 years or so, was 16-5 in 1995.
A 14-year veteran of the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Cardinals and Red Sox, Gray is 141-105 for his career with a 3.53 ERA.
In an era that is increasingly dominated by velocity, he simply knows how to pitch. He throws strikes with multiple pitches and relies on excellent movement and control.
Up next for the Red Sox
The Sox and Giants will play again on Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. ET in a game that airs nationally on FOX.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval will take the mound for Boston while Blade Tidwell pitches for the Giants.
Sandoval, who was acquired before the 2025 season, is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA. Tidwell, 25, is 0-0 with a 4.33 ERA in limited action.
Scoreboard watching
If you're thinking about the Red Sox and their ability to end up in the first wild card position, then you want to pay attention to the Yankees and Blue Jays, who will play Saturday at 1:35 p.m. ET.
American League Cy Young hopeful Dylan Cease will pitch for Toronto against Ryan Weathers.
