BOSTON -- As the Red Sox made sure to manage the workload of two rookie lefties (Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett) who have surpassed their career highs in innings and a third southpaw coming back from Tommy John surgery, the one constant in the rotation has been righty Sonny Gray, who has emerged as the ace of the staff in Garrett Crochet’s prolonged absence.
Now, it’s time for Gray to get some downtime.
Instead of taking his regular turn on Tuesday night against the Mariners, Gray will pitch on Saturday evening in Baltimore.
That will give him nine days of rest since his last start in Miami on Wednesday.
“I feel fine,” Gray said. “I think it's just taking a few days, getting my body recovered, fully recovered, and that was it. Physically, I feel really good. About a month ago, we just talked about it and said, ‘Let's re-evaluate when we get to [this point].' So that's what we did.
“We re-evaluated and just made a decision to take a couple days, and then it kind of puts you on track for September and moving forward. And to be honest, I needed a couple days, and I'm not scared to admit that.”
Is overall body fatigue the best way to put it?
“I think it's probably what you call a 36-year-old that has been pitching on five or six days' rest all year, and just taking three days to fully recover, and then line up the rest of September and the rest of the year, and get back into a routine and schedule,” Gray said. “That’s probably what I would call it.”
The Red Sox are not sure who will pitch in Gray’s place on Tuesday. Conveniently, it is Sept. 1, meaning they can call up a pitcher from the Minors.
Interim manager Chad Tracy is keeping his options open.
In 25 starts this season, Gray is 16-4 with a 2.82 ERA.