In a recent announcement, St. Louis Cardinals' right-hander Sonny Gray has been diagnosed with a "mild" strain of his right hamstring. The team's president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, revealed the news on Tuesday, stating that while it was encouraging that the strain wasn't more severe, Gray's readiness for the beginning of the season and his potential appearance on Opening Day are now in question.

Gray had previously dealt with hamstring strains during his time with the Twins in 2022, but Mozeliak expressed confidence that this current injury is less severe. Despite the optimistic outlook, Mozeliak admitted that it may be challenging to get Gray back in shape for the start of the season.

Mozeliak also dismissed the idea of seeking additional starting pitching help in response to Gray's injury, asserting that it was not necessary at this point. He mentioned that the Cardinals had not engaged in recent discussions with the Boras Corporation, essentially ruling out the acquisition of pitchers like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. It appears that the Cardinals are unlikely to consider second-tier options such as Michael Lorenzen or Mike Clevinger as well.

With Gray's potential absence from the starting rotation, the Cardinals may turn to veteran Miles Mikolas to take the mound on Opening Day. Lefty Steven Matz and righties Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, who signed one-year contracts in the offseason, would follow in the rotation. In case of a vacancy, lefties Matthew Liberatore and Zack Thompson are the top in-house options to step into the fifth starter spot.

Gray, who recently signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Cardinals, was primed to be the team's Opening Day starter. Last season, he finished second in the American League Cy Young voting, delivering an impressive 2.79 ERA over 32 starts for the Twins.

The Cardinals' pitching staff struggled last year, posting the fifth-worst ERA in baseball at 5.08. The signings of Gray, Gibson, and Lynn were aimed at providing stability and veteran leadership to the rotation. Although Gray's injury temporarily hinders his ability to lead the staff, a quick recovery could still afford him the opportunity to make a significant impact with approximately 30 starts for the Cardinals this season.

As the team prepares for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Gray's progress and whether he can recover in time for Opening Day. Cardinals fans hope that his injury remains minor and that he can contribute significantly to the team's quest for success in 2023.