The St. Louis Cardinals will be starting Opening Day without their ace pitcher. Despite signing three-time All-Star Sonny Gray to bolster their starting rotation, his recent hamstring injury has left him sidelined. Even with three offseason additions, the Cardinals’ pitching lineup remains sparse. Should Gray be out for an extended period, it could drastically alter the team’s outlook.
Fortunately, it seems that this scenario may not come to pass. St. Louis recently received encouraging news regarding Gray’s injury, indicating significant progress in his recovery. Despite this positive development, Gray has officially been ruled out for Opening Day.
However, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, there’s a possibility that he won’t need to be placed on the Injured List and could potentially pitch later in the first road trip of the season. “Sonny Gray will not be cleared before Opening Day, Oli Marmol says, but a path remains to where he won’t require an (Injured List) stint and could potentially pitch later in the first road trip of the season,” Woo reported. “Miles Mikolas is your Cardinals Opening Day starter.”
If Gray can swiftly return to pitching without a significant absence, it would be a significant boost for St. Louis. Despite a dismal performance in the 2023 season, the Cardinals have high hopes for the 2024 campaign. Widely regarded as the leading team in the National League Central, St. Louis’s prospects hinge greatly on Gray’s health.
The team is already contending with several injuries, with Gray’s being the most notable. While his absence on Opening Day is disappointing, there’s optimism that he will make a prompt return to action.