Another devastating blow took place for the Boston Red Sox on April 20. After 2.2 innings pitched, starting pitcher Sonny Gray was removed from his start against the Detroit Tigers.
Gray walked off the mound with a hamstring strain after issuing a walk to Gleyber Torres. The Red Sox claim that Gray’s hamstring injury is “not serious.”
“I can honestly say it doesn’t feel like it’s a horrible thing,” Gray said per Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo. “It’s just something that’s going to take however long it’s going to take to get right. I don’t know what that is right now.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora shared that Gray will get an MRI on Tuesday before making any big decisions.
“I’m not concerned for a long-term thing.” Gray stated. “Having familiarity with it is a good thing because it’s kinda like a ‘crap’ thing too because you have familiarity with the same thing. It doesn’t feel as bad as it has other times where I have missed time. I will say that. And that’s a good thing.”
However, hours before the first game of the season against their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees, the Red Sox made a big announcement.
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Boston Red Sox Pitcher Sonny Gray Officially On 15-Day IL With Hamstring Strain
Struggle after struggle continues in Boston, despite the positivity surrounding Sonny Gray’s injury, the right-handed pitcher has found himself on the bench for at least two weeks.
Although devastating, Sonny Gray is reassured that this will only be a short term IL visit. Red Sox beat writer Chris Colitto writes in a tweet, “Sonny Gray is still encouraged that this will be a short-term IL stint. Says his hamstring feels OK but the smart thing was to shut him down.”
With Gray hitting the IL, it leaves another hole in the Red Sox already struggling rotation. Through five games, Gray posted a 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 13 strikeouts, and a win-loss record of 2-1.
While his 2026 season stats might not be super impressive, Gray is one of Boston’s most consistent pitchers. Their starting rotation is one of the worst in baseball thus far.
In the offseason, the Red Sox acquirred both Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez in hopes of bolstering their rotation. While Suarez started off slow, he allowed zero runs through 14 innings in last two games.
But now Gray’s injury just gives manager Alex Cora one more thing to worry about when it comes to this struggling Red Sox team.
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Red Sox Call Up Tyler Samaniego From Triple-A Ahead Of Series Vs. Yankees
In the wake of Sonny Gray’s hamstring strain, the Red Sox recalled left-handed pitcher Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A. Samaniego was originally called up on April 8, where he made his MLB debut against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In his debut, Samaniego struck out three batters and appeared in two more games before being optioned back to Triple-A. However, due to Gray’s injury, Samaniego has been given a second chance to prove himself out of the bullpen for a struggling Red Sox team.
While Samaniego is not a starting pitcher, manager Alex Cora claims that their starting pitching situation against the Yankees is fluid after Gray’s injury.
“Red Sox still list Early, Suarez, and Bello as starters for the Yankees,” Cotillo wrote in a tweet. “But Cora says the situation is fluid and they’ll have to address their opening (Gray) in the coming days.”
The Yankees and Red Sox face off at 6:45 P.M. EST on April 21, at Fenway Park.
Red Sox Place Starting Pitcher On 15-Day IL Before Yankees Game