JULY 29, 2019–Sonny Skies are ahead: Cincinnati pitcher Sonny Gray suffered through an ugly season in 2018 with the Yankees but has found new life in Cincinnati this season with his former college pitching coach at Vanderbilt, Derek Johnson, recording a 3.29 ERA through 20 starts. He’s really been dealing lately, having posted a 1.62 ERA and 42 K in 33.1 IP over his last five starts. How legit is his resurgence you ask? His strikeout percentage has taken a huge leap up to 29%, easily a career high, and way above his 21% mark from 2018. Gray’s throwing his slider 19% of the time, which is a career high rate, and he’s getting ridiculously good results with the pitch. Thanks to re-acquainting himself with Johnson, the skies are suddenly bright for Gray once again these days. MLB History Book Atlanta: Keuchel 0-4 career vs. Nats, Washington: Corbin 3-0 $ career home vs. Braves …Dodgers: Maeda 1-5 $ in July, Colorado: Gray 6-1 $ home in July … Detroit: Zimmerman 1-10 $ L11 overall with 9.49 ERA, Angels 20-4 home vs. Tigers. Grinding Out The Profits It’s safe to say tonight will be our final opportunity this season to fade Pittsburgh’s Jordan Lyles and his 0-18 career team-start mark during the month of July. Best of all, not only is Lyles squaring off against Sonny ‘Skies’ Gray – see Thought For The Day piece at the top of this page – but Lyles is also 0-7 with a 10.00 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP in his last seven overall team-starts. That ‘thwack’ sound you hear as you read this is simply us snapping the rubber band. |