51ºÚÁÏ

Gray and the Cardinals begin a nine-game road trip with Friday's game at Cleveland at 6:10 p.m. (51ºÚÁÏ time), which airs exclusively on .

The right-hander Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA) was shelled in two of his last three road starts.

This season, only five of his 15 outings have been away from the friendly confines of Busch Stadium, where he has one of the better home ERAs in the majors.

If the season ended today, Gray's road ERA of 5.88 would be a career worst. Last season's 5.20 mark would be his third-worst. He has given up five or more runs in eight of his 17 road starts with the Cardinals.

At home, Gray is allowing 0.61 home runs per 9 innings pitched. On the road, it's 2.08, which is in the bottom 10% among 144 starters to throw at least 20 road innings.

Gray is in line to make two road starts on this road trip, the second one in Chicago vs. the Cubs, on paper a far more difficult task than Friday's game vs. the Guardians.

Against the Guardians, Gray faces an offense that ranks in the bottom six of baseball in runs scored and on-base plus slugging percentage.

 In June, Cleveland is last in baseball in both runs scored (66) and batting average (.215).

Guardians third baseman and leading hitter Jose Ramirez is out of the lineup a day after he was hit by a pitch and left the game vs. Toronto.

Gray has historically struggled at Cleveland's Progressive Field. His 4.96 ERA in nine starts there is second-worst at any park where he has started more than six games.

Most of those struggles came far earlier in Gray's career, however. He hasn't pitched in Cleveland since 2023.

The Guardians will start right-hander Luis L. Ortiz (4-8, 4.30 ERA), who is also far better at home, putting up a 3.00 ERA this season at Progressive Field.

The Cardinals are 44-38, third in the National League Central and 4 1/2 games behind Chicago.

The Cardinals, 16-17 overall this year vs. the American League, have won six of their last eight road games vs. the AL.

The Cardinals have been shutout in their last two games, the first time that's happened since late 2022.

The Guardians are 40-39, second in the American League Central and 9 1/2 games behind Detroit. Its minus-32 run differential is the worst in baseball for an above-.500 team.

How to watch Cardinals at Guardians

When: 6:10 p.m. Friday

Where: Progressive Field in Cleveland

TV/radio: Apple TV+ (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Note: A is available.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, 2B

2. Masyn Winn, SS

3. Alec Burleson, RF

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Lars Nootbaar, LF

6. Nolan Arenado, 3B

7. Nolan Gorman, DH

8. Pedro Pagés, C

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Sonny Gray, RHP

GUARDIANS

1. Steven Kwan, LF

2. Lane Thomas, CF

3. Kyle Manzardo, 1B

4. David Fry, DH

5. Daniel Schneemann, 3B

6. Nolan Jones, RF

7. Gabriel Arias, SS

8. Bo Naylor, C

9. Angel Martínez, 2B

P: Luis L. Ortiz, RHP

Injury report

Lars Nootbaar, OF (rib cage pain): He received an anti-inflammatory shot to proactively address pain in his rib cage. He is out of the lineup for the second straight day as he’s in a stretch of 48 hours of inactivity. The Cardinals plan for him to return the lineup Friday in Cleveland. Updated June 26

Jordan Walker, OF (appendicitis): After feeling discomfort, Walker was sent to the hospital Tuesday night, where he received nonsurgical treatment for appendicitis to avoid a more severe issue. He spent the night and returned home in the morning. The Cardinals say he is more comfortable and will take four or five days of rest before returning to the field. His IL stint is backdated to Monday . Updated June 26

Ivan Herrera, C/DH (left hamstring strain): Hererra has started doing some workouts on the field and in the weight room to ease into his recovery from a slightly torn hamstring string. He has not been inactive since the event. He felt a "pull" in his hamstring while running the bases June 19 during a game vs. the White Sox. He is expected to miss anywhere from two-to-six weeks with a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring and went on the injured list on June 20. Updated June 26

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated June 19