JUPITER, Fla. 鈥 As Sonny Gray and the Cardinals鈥 coaching staff mapped out his return to the rotation from injury, they discussed a variety of routes, including one that would bring him back the swiftest and build arm strength on the job, in the majors. It was a scenario that would both limit his pitch count going into a start and be sure to tax the bullpen coming out of it.
Gray called the leap from the back fields straight to the big leagues 鈥渇ar-fetched.鈥
The decision was made to bring him back stronger, not sooner.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a little far-fetched if you think about it to just say you haven鈥檛 pitched in a game in three weeks, throw a minor-league game, and then jump into a regular season,鈥 Gray said Friday outside of the Cardinals鈥 spring training clubhouse. 鈥淎s much as I would like for that to be a thing, I don鈥檛 think that makes sense in anybody鈥檚 brain.鈥
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Instead of skipping straight to the majors, Gray will open the season on the 15-day injured list, and he is scheduled to make three appearances before being eligible to return to the rotation. The decision to open the season with Gray on the 15-day IL came Friday as the Cardinals鈥 evening game was canceled due to storms in the forecast. The team鈥檚 opening day roster is starting to crystallize with outfielder Lars Nootbaar (fractured ribs) also set to open the season on the 10-day IL. The Cardinals plan to finalize their bullpen decisions as early as Saturday and will be left with one final call before leaving Florida 鈥 what they will do in center field, where top prospect Victor Scott II has played well, Dylan Carlson has stood out, and Michael Siani offers a defensive specialist.
Two pitching decisions were made Friday: Lefty Zack Thompson will join the rotation to open the season in Gray鈥檚 spot and Matthew Liberatore will be in the bullpen. Gray will miss at least two turns. The earliest he can start for the Cardinals will be during the second series of the first home stand of the season, when the Philadelphia Phillies visit on April 8-10.
That schedule allows him to start with his arm at full strength, not still gaining.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 the smartest, quickest way to get back without doing anything stupid,鈥 Gray said.
鈥淵ou can build up in season and let him throw three innings in a big-league game and then go to the (bullpen),鈥 manager Oliver Marmol said. 鈥淥r, you can build him up and have him ready to actually start a game and have the mentality of he鈥檚 starter, rather than I have 45 pitches to work with.鈥
The headliner of the Cardinals鈥 鈥減itching, pitching, pitching鈥 offseason, Gray injured his right hamstring during the second inning of his second spring training start. He has not pitched in a game since March 4 and was diagnosed with a 鈥渕ild鈥 tear in the leg muscle. But he was able to resume activities after only a few days of rest. On Friday, he said he has felt completely healthy with his leg for at least 10 days, but the concern has been moving from that healthy into game-speed actions and also building his arm strength.
A scheduled minor-league start Friday was rained out, postponing Gray鈥檚 outing until Saturday on the back fields of Jupiter and giving the Cardinals the chance to finalize and reveal his schedule and cement some choices for the roster.
He鈥檒l throw two innings in the minor-league game.
鈥淚鈥檓 not worried about my leg,鈥 Gray said. 鈥淚 just need to get into a game, like I need to face hitters, have an umpire, have a pitch clock, have a defense. I just need to pitch in a game. I haven鈥檛 pitched in a game. I think it鈥檚 a little far-fetched to say, like, yeah, you鈥檝e thrown a couple 50 pitches (bullpen), an up-down in the bullpen and this and that. OK, yeah, you鈥檝e faced hitters with coaches standing behind you and no defense and it鈥檚 like nothing regular. I鈥檝e got to get into a game. It鈥檚 just about pitching in a game.鈥
Thompson鈥檚 selection for the rotation moves Liberatore, the other candidate for the opening or a No. 6 spot, into the bullpen.
Both players were notified Friday they made the major-league roster.
Thompson is tied for the team lead in innings pitched this spring with 16, and his 14 strikeouts are the most by a Cardinals starter. Liberatore has pitched well beyond some of his lines, especially with holding his velocity, which has zipped up to 98 mph on his fastball. Liberatore has a resilient arm, has said he鈥檚 willing to pitch every day, and the Cardinals determined the roles in part because they feel Liberatore could have a more prominent role in the bullpen than Thompson would.
Liberatore will not be stashed as a long reliever, used only in emergency. The Cardinals believe his mix of power fastball and diving curveball could be an effective choice against left-handed batters, as he was late last season.
Through five games (four starts) this spring, Thompson has been able to display an expanded array of pitches. This offseason, he added a tighter, harder curveball to the classic bender that helped make him a first-round pick. He also adjusted his approach with his cutter and his changeup, giving the latter less spin and more movement. The change he made to his pitches has confused the Statcast data, with his changeup sometimes registering as a forkball and his new curve 鈥 his 鈥渂aby curve,鈥 as he calls it 鈥 showing up as a slider or changeup. He joked during the spring that if Statcast has a hard time identifying his pitches, maybe so will the hitters.
During a start against Minnesota in Fort Myers, Florida, Thompson did not have the zip on his fastball. A year ago, the start would have spiraled from there. This time, he was able to turn to his off-speed pitches and throw four no-hit innings.
That resourcefulness earned him the start in Gray鈥檚 spot.
鈥淎dversity is, 鈥楥rap, I don鈥檛 have my fastball, what do I do?鈥欌 Marmol said. 鈥淎nd he found a way, a solution, and he鈥檚 done that multiple times now. 鈥 He had results because he was able to figure out what else can I do to get through this, rather than just panic?鈥
The Cardinals have not announced their rotation for the season-opening, four-game series at Dodger Stadium other than on Thursday, the Cardinals鈥 opening day, Miles Mikolas will start. His scheduled start Friday night was bumped back to Saturday, so he will be on normal, five-day rest for the opener against the Dodgers. Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn will both pitch Sunday, and how they, Steven Matz, and Thompson slot in behind Mikolas will be set this weekend. Lynn is being considered for the home opener April 4 against Miami at Busch Stadium.
If Gray recovers well after Saturday鈥檚 outing, he will make another appearance five days later (Thursday, same as opening day) and then five days after that (April 2). Gray said it鈥檚 likely he鈥檒l make at least the third appearance at a minor-league affiliate as a rehab start.
From there, into the rotation.
The goal is to have him ready, not getting ready.
鈥淭he last thing you want is a setback, and then you don鈥檛 have somebody till the end of May,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淚t just doesn鈥檛 risk/reward here. He鈥檚 feeling great. He is feeling really good about where he鈥檚 at, but when you look at ramping him up and getting to where he can throw five innings that鈥檚 what makes the most sense.鈥
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