Texas Rangers' Jon Gray throws to Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 8, 2022, in Toronto. TORONTO — Jon Gray’s new slider grip creates more a dynamic pitch through increased spin and more horizontal movement because he places both fingers more in contact with the laces.On the season’s second day, the Rangers placed their opening day starter on the IL with a blister on his right middle finger.
“He made them look silly for three innings and a lot of that had to do with his ability to spin the baseball,” manager Chris Woodward said. “So, if he’s going to try to pitch through it and he can’t spin it the way he normally does, why do that? At this point, we can just take the time and he’s really only missing one start or going from the start of the rotation to the end.
In essence, Saturday’s starter Dane Dunning now fronts a four-man rotation in which he is followed by right-hander Spencer Howard and lefties Taylor Hearn, who will start the home opener, and Martin Perez. That foursome will then take another against the LA Angels following Wednesday’s off day. Another off day follows the four-game series with the Angels before the Rangers go to Seattle.
Gray, who signed a four-year, $60 million contract on Dec. 1, threw the slider 24 times, according to MLB’s StatCast system, in his 70 pitches . For his career, he’s thrown it about 31% of the time. But the new slider, which he learned from co-pitching coach Brendan Sagara has him applying more pressure on the seams and that can cause irritation.The IL was no stranger to the Rangers last year. They used it 34 times, an average of once every six days.
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