Jon Gray 2023 Outlook: Injury-Marred 2022 Masks Solid Season
2 years agoJon Gray finally escaped the thin air of Colorado last season, but his 7-7 record and 3.96 ERA over 127⅓ IP were more solid than spectacular. His ERA estimators were a little better with a 3.59 xERA and 3.46 xFIP, but you cannot talk about Gray's 2022 season without bringing up his injuries. He went on the IL with a right middle finger blister after his first start, a low-grade left knee sprain on April 20, and an oblique injury in August. He had a 7.00 ERA in April, 5.04 in May, and 4.50 in September. His healthy months looked like fantasy gold with a 2.39 ERA in June and a 2.97 mark in July. Gray also boasts an above-average 25.7 K% on the back of a wicked slider (20.6 SwStr%, 39.2% chase rate) and plays for a team with a solid offense, so he should get his fair share of wins. The only risk is that Gray is a two-pitch pitcher with both his change and curve looking ineffective last season. All told, Gray is worth taking well before his current ADP of 200.93.