If there was ever a time the Cardinals needed Sonny Gray to assert himself as the team's ace, that time is now.
Gray starts Thursday as the free-falling Cardinals host the Padres at 6:45 p.m. in the first of four games at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals went 1-5 on their most recent road trip, which ended with the Redbirds losing two of three to the historically bad Rockies in Colorado.
The team's starting pitching is cratering. Since June 30, ӣƵ starters have an MLB-worst 7.73 ERA. Opponents are hitting .311 against them, also last.
In those 18 games, they've gotten just two quality starts. In 10 of the last 18 games, Cardinals starters have either allowed five or more runs or gone three or fewer innings, creating big problems early.
The right-hander Gray (9-4, 4.04 ERA) has been part of that. He is coming off his worst start as a Cardinal, giving up nine runs, eight of them earned, in 3 1/3 innings at Arizona in his last start.
People are also reading…
Second on the team this season with nine quality starts, Gray has been strong at Busch Stadium since joining the team to start 2024, sporting a 2.79 ERA at home as a Redbird.
The Padres, a below average offensive bunch this season, have struggled a bit more this month. Pitching, especially relief pitching, has kept the Friars in contention.
For the Padres, 38-year-old right-hander Yu Darvish (0-2, 6.08 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season after missing the first three months with inflammation in his throwing elbow.
Darvish has yet to throw more than five innings this year.
The Cardinals are 52-51, alone in fourth in the National League Central. ӣƵ is 5-13 in its last 18 games after sweeping a series in Cleveland late last month.
The Padres are 55-45, second in the National League West. The Friars are coming off losing two of three in Miami, their first series loss in their last five.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Padres
When: 6:45 p.m. Thursday
Where: Busch Stadium in ӣƵ
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Brendan Donovan, 2B
2. Iván Herrera, DH
3. Alec Burleson, LF
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
6. Masyn Winn, SS
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Sonny Gray, RHP
PADRES
1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
2. Luis Arraez, 1B
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Jackson Merrill, CF
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Gavin Sheets, DH
7. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
8. Bryce Johnson, LF
9. Martín Maldonado, C
P: Yu Darvish, RHP
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar, OF (left costochondral sprain): Nootbaar continued taking swings Thursday with hitting off a tee and soft toss. He said he has been able to go through baseball activities and has responded well as he nears a rehab assignment, which could begin as early as next week. Updated July 24
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B (back tightness): Has been making progress and is expected to return before Nootbaar as the soreness in his lower-back subsides. He could also begin a rehab assignment by next week. This is a recurring injury for the young infielder, who also dealt with back soreness in previous seasons. Gorman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday (retroactive to Friday), a day after he scratched from the Cardinals’ starting lineup for their Friday opener in Arizona because of tightness in his back. Before the first half of the season wrapped, Gorman was unavailable from the Cardinals’ bench on July 13 after his “lower back locked up on him,” Marmol said. Updated July 24
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter could begin a throwing program next week, manager Oliver Marmol said. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated July 24
