Sonny Gray Shows Ace-Level Form in Dominant Win Over Tigers at Busch Stadium

Sonny Gray Shows Ace-Level Form in Dominant Win Over Tigers at Busch Stadium

ST. LOUIS — For the St. Louis Cardinals, 2024 has been a season of recalibration and reinvention. After an underwhelming 2023, the front office sought to bolster its rotation with a true frontline starter—an ace capable of stabilizing the pitching staff and setting the tone for a postseason push. They found that in veteran right-hander Sonny Gray, inking him to a lucrative deal with hopes that his savvy, experience, and elite off-speed arsenal could anchor the team. But for Gray to truly live up to the billing of an ace, he knew he’d need more than just a wicked sweeper and a devastating curveball. He needed his fastball—his “straight stuff”—to play up and complement the rest of his repertoire.

On Monday night at Busch Stadium, Gray may have found that elusive balance.

Facing a red-hot Detroit Tigers lineup that had won seven of its previous ten games, Gray was masterful, showcasing his full arsenal in an 11-4 victory that felt as much a statement as it was a step forward. Mixing pitches, speeds, and eye levels with precision, Gray looked every bit the ace the Cardinals envisioned when they signed him.

Turning a Corner with the Fastball

Throughout the early part of the 2024 season, Gray’s breaking pitches have drawn widespread acclaim. His sweeper—a horizontal-breaking pitch that veers sharply away from right-handed hitters—has been among the most effective in baseball. His curveball, already well-known for its sharp vertical drop, has induced countless whiffs and poor contact. But opponents had started to gameplan against his breaking stuff, laying off pitches on the edges and sitting on fastballs when they came over the plate.

Recognizing this, Gray went back to the drawing board in recent weeks, aiming to refine his fastball command and vary his sequencing to keep hitters guessing. On Monday, that work paid off in a big way. Gray used his fastball to get ahead in counts and elevated it late to finish off at-bats. By establishing the pitch early and locating it effectively, he was able to set up his off-speed stuff with greater deception.

“I knew coming into the game that I had to be a little different,” Gray told reporters after the game. “You can’t just throw breaking balls and expect to get outs at this level—especially not against a lineup like [Detroit’s] that’s been swinging it well. I wanted to get back to using the fastball aggressively and making them respect all parts of the zone.”

Dominance in Numbers

Gray’s final line against the Tigers tells the story of a pitcher in command: 6.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs allowed, 8 strikeouts, and just 1 walk. He threw 97 pitches—61 of them for strikes—and induced 14 swing-and-misses, many on fastballs elevated above the zone or on sharp, late-breaking sweepers that tumbled away from barrels.

Perhaps most importantly, Gray kept the Tigers off-balance. Of the 24 batters he faced, only four reached base via a hit, and Detroit rarely mounted serious threats until the game was well in hand. Gray’s ability to pitch backward—throwing off-speed pitches in fastball counts and vice versa—allowed him to stay unpredictable and disrupt timing.

“He kept us guessing all night,” said Tigers slugger Riley Greene. “You knew the breaking stuff was coming at some point, but he did a great job of changing speeds and locations. When he’s got that fastball working like that, he’s tough.”

A Boost for the Cardinals Rotation

The Cardinals’ rotation has been under the microscope all season. With aging veterans and young arms still finding consistency, the pressure on Gray to deliver quality starts every fifth day has been immense. His strong showing on Monday not only gave the bullpen a breather—it also provided a much-needed morale boost to a team trying to stay afloat in a competitive National League Central.

“He set the tone tonight,” said manager Oliver Marmol. “That’s what aces do. When you’re coming off a tough series or you need a win to keep momentum going, you look to your guy to go out and give you a chance. Sonny did more than that—he dominated.”

Gray’s impact goes beyond the box score. His preparation, professionalism, and intensity have been evident since spring training. Teammates rave about his work ethic and his willingness to mentor younger pitchers, while coaches appreciate his openness to analytics and adaptability in adjusting his approach.

Finding the Right Mix

Much of Gray’s evolution this season has centered around pitch mix and sequencing. Entering Monday’s game, advanced metrics showed an over-reliance on his sweeper in key spots. Opponents had started to take a more disciplined approach, and Gray was finding it harder to generate strikeouts when hitters laid off the edges.

In response, Gray and the Cardinals’ pitching staff made a strategic shift. He began throwing more fastballs early in counts, particularly up in the zone, and saving his breaking pitches for late-count situations. On Monday, he threw his fastball nearly 45% of the time—up from 35% in his previous start. That adjustment not only made his off-speed pitches more effective, but it also helped him get deeper into the game with lower pitch counts.

“It’s about setting things up,” Gray explained. “If you establish the fastball and make them respect it, everything else gets better. The sweeper’s better when it follows a fastball up. The curveball’s better when you’ve shown you can dot the corners.”

Offense Supports Gray’s Gem

While Gray’s performance on the mound stole the headlines, the Cardinals’ offense was equally impressive. St. Louis erupted for 11 runs, led by multi-hit games from Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Lars Nootbaar. Rookie sensation Masyn Winn continued to impress, delivering a clutch two-run double in the fifth inning to break the game open.

The Cardinals’ bats gave Gray a comfortable cushion early, scoring four runs in the first two innings and never looking back. That run support allowed Gray to pitch aggressively and attack the zone without fear of giving up a solo shot or bloop hit.

“Any time you can pitch with a lead, it changes everything,” Gray said. “The guys put up runs early, and that let me just focus on execution.”

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals know that if they’re going to make a serious push for the playoffs, they’ll need Sonny Gray to be more than just good—they’ll need him to be great. Monday’s outing showed that he’s capable of being just that, especially when his fastball command complements his elite breaking pitches.

As the season grinds on and the pressure mounts, Gray’s leadership and performance will be vital. His ability to adjust, adapt, and continue refining his craft is what separates him from so many others. And if Monday was any indication, the best may still be to come.

For now, the Cardinals will take the win, the series momentum, and a performance from their ace that showed precisely why they brought him to St. Louis in the first place.

“That’s what we signed up for,” Marmol said with a smile. “That’s the Sonny Gray we believe in.”