Gray's rough 2024 continues: 'Just not good enough'

ARLINGTON -- Jon Gray knelt on the edge of the mound, visibly frustrated as the ball off the bat of A’s outfielder JJ Bleday sailed 370 feet over the right-field wall. It was the second homer Gray had surrendered on the night, this one coming after he walked Oakland’s nine-hole hitter Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker, who had already taken him deep in the first inning.

Gray, who gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings of the Rangers’ 9-2 loss to the A’s on Friday night at Globe Life Field, understandably did not have much good to say about his performance.

"I'd say altogether, yeah, not much of anything good to look at,” he said postgame. “I thought we attacked well. Every mistake they were on it, so don’t make any mistakes. It’s gotta be better. It’s gotta be better. So I don't know. I feel like we used our stuff well. We used the curveball tonight and threw some changeups. I loved that, but then again, I feel like I'm getting the worst outcomes right now."

And he’s right. Gray has said multiple times across his last few appearances that his stuff feels good -- but he is also in the midst of his worst stretch of the season.

In 15 appearances (13 starts) to begin the season (a stretch that included a stint on the injured list with a right groin injury), the right-hander was actually enjoying one of his best stretches as a Ranger, posting a 3.03 ERA across 71 1/3 innings.

Gray returned from a second groin-related IL stint on Aug. 20, but in three appearances (two starts) since returning, Gray has allowed 12 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings (12.46 ERA). He’s been tagged with the loss in each of his two starts. Manager Bruce Bochy said he believes that as Gray has worked to build his strength back up, he’s still struggling with his command.

"It's been a gradual build-up for him, talking about the strength and stamina that comes with command,” Bochy said. “He needs work, and that was evident tonight."

Gray felt slightly differently. Despite the stuff looking and feeling good, he just hasn’t been his best lately, it’s that simple.

"I feel fine [physically],” he said. “I feel like I'm making better pitches, just not good enough. It's like a batter too short each time. So I've got to find a way to either not walk people or not hang a pitch. It's as simple as that."

Gray has often found it hard to pinpoint exactly what clicks for him when he has great stretches versus this slump he’s in now. He had a 1.24 ERA in April, a 1.85 ERA in May and even a solid 3.57 ERA in July. He also had an 8.38 ERA in June sandwiched between all of that before this recent rough stretch.

"I try to do the best I can every time I go out,” Gray said. “It may not feel as good as last year or the year before, and that's tough. These guys want to win. I know that I'm the reason they're not. So when I take the ball, it's tough. I'm trying to get the best out of myself, but it's not coming out. I work harder, I’m trying harder. I'm trying to stay in a good attitude to where I can just not get ahead of myself and think about outcomes that haven't happened yet. That'll be a big part of it.”

With five or six starts left for Gray if he stays healthy through September, there is still time for him to finish the season off with solid numbers. But even if he finishes strong, Gray doesn’t think there’s a way for him to truly feel good about the job he’s done this year.

"I don't think that's possible at this point, really,” Gray said. “I think it's good to go and do your best from here on out, but I don't think there's any way I can call this a good season. I really don't. It’s too late."

And, well, that might be true for the Rangers' entire season as well.