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Colorado Rockies: Jon Gray gets nod for Opening Day

By Olivia Greene

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 27: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a first inning pitch against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during a Spring Training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 27, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 27: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a first inning pitch against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during a Spring Training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 27, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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BSN Rockies recently reported that Jon Gray will be getting the starting spot against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Opening Day. This news comes after a long awaited answer from Bud Black on who would be the starter.

This comes as no surprise to Rockies fans as it was a no-brainer going into the 2018 season but Jon Gray will start on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks this Thursday in Phoenix.

Along with Gray being the ace, Tyler Anderson and German Marquez will follow in that order. That only leaves two spots open on the rotation for the Rockies. As we are only a couple days out from Opening Day, though, the focus will be on Jon Gray.

Gray, 26, who had 20 starts last season leading to a 3.67 ERA, will have to overcomes the odds set out against him. Due to injury, he wasn’t able to play the entire season as Black would’ve wanted. However, he does show he’s true ace material with his strikeout rating being at 24.3 percent. The Colorado Rockies are hoping he can have an injury free season along with upping his stats.

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His pitching counterpart on the Dbacks will be Patrick Corbin. He’ll be looking to redeem himself after the last time where he had an elbow injury. The media believe that the Dbacks will come out on top of the Rockies this season. However, if Gray they way he has been to end spring training (9 1/3 IP, 0 runs allowed), they will have a hard time against him.

The matchup on Thursday will look like a replay of the 2017 NL Wild Card game. This time around, though, Jon Gray will almost definitely be staying in for more than 2 innings.

This past spring, Gray had been a little shaky to start but it’s been seemingly coming together as he builds up his repertoire. He’s started in 6 games and had an ERA of 5.82 in the 21.1 innings he’s pitched. Even though he has a high ERA he did strikeout 22 batters this springs. In addition, as mentioned earlier, he went his final 9 1/3 innings without allowing a run.

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With his strikeout rate from last year he should have no problem shutting down the Dbacks’ lineup.

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