Cincinnati Reds: Three takeaways from rain-shortened series vs Cubs

1. Sonny Gray was masterful.

In his two starts in the 2020 season, Sonny Gray has 20 strikeouts, a 0.71 ERA and two wins. Let that soak in for a minute. In 2019, Gray didn’t reach 20 strikeouts until his fourth start. His second win didn’t happen until May 27th, a full two months into the season. He has been masterful in 2020.

Gray had a bounce-back year in 2019, his first with the Reds following one and a half rocky years with the New York Yankees. With a 2019 stat line of 11-8, 2.87 ERA and 205 strikeouts, fans wondered how Gray would perform during the 2020 season.

Where would Sonny Gray fit in the mix with fellow top flight starters Luis Castillo and Trevor Bauer? Expectations grew when David Bell named Sonny Gray the Opening Day starter for the 2020 season. After two starts, Gray has exceeded every expectation.

Now Luis Castillo and Trevor Bauer have to continue to pitch at the same high-level they reached during their first start of the year just to keep up with Gray. This is the kind of healthy competition that will elevate the Cincinnati starting rotation to heights only imagined by the best pitching staffs in baseball.

With yesterday’s rainout, Wade Miley’s expected trip to the IL and Anthony DeSclafani’s return, Gray can stay on his normal five-day pitching schedule. If that’s the case, Gray will return to the mound on August 3, to open the series against the Cleveland Indians. What better way to kick off the Ohio Cup than to hand the ball to the most masterful pitcher in the Reds starting rotation?