HOUSTON -- The A's decision to have Sonny Gray pitch against the Astros on Sunday, rather than put him through the motions of a Minor League rehab start, stemmed from a call made by the pitcher himself.
Friday night, after hearing Rich Hill had been scratched from his Saturday start in Houston because of a groin issue and was unlikely for Sunday, Gray phoned head trainer Nick Paparesta and told him, "I can do it."
"I felt comfortable, and I was ready," Gray said. "I wanted to get here. I talked to [manager Bob Melvin and pitching coach Curt Young], and we made the decision for me to come here, so I got on a plane and got in last night.