Dodgers' Opening Day Opponent Unlikely to Have Ace Pitcher Due to Injury
The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face the St. Louis Cardinals for their first home game of the 2024 MLB season. However, there appears to be a strong chance that the Dodgers will not have to face one of the Cardinals' best pitchers, right-hander Sonny Gray.
The Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak shared that Gray was diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain. Mozeliak added that it would be challenging for Gray to be ready for Opening Day, via John Denton of MLB.com.
Gray initially felt an issue with his hamstring on Monday in the Cardinals 1-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. He came out of the game, and would later be diagnosed with the strain.
Opening Day is 23 days away, with the Dodgers playing the Cardinals at home for four straight days, starting with that initial matchup on March 28.
The potential absence of Gray would be a huge blow for the Cardinals, as Gray is expected to be their No. 1 pitcher this season. While Gray has not been completely ruled out, his status is certainly not looking great.
So far through Spring Training, Gray has started two games and pitched 3.2 innings. He's allowed three hits and two walks while giving up zero runs. He's also struck out three hitters.
The 34-year-old Gray is a three-time All-Star and coming off a 2023 campaign in which he finished on the All-MLB second team. In 2023, Gray ended the year with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. With the Dodgers featuring a stacked batting lineup that includes Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman in just the first three, they could gain another advantage if Gray is unable to play.
He signed a three-year, $75 million deal with St. Louis this offseason.
