Sonny Gray pitched a great game against the New York Yankees in Wild Card Game 2. Chad Tracy pulled him in the fifth inning despite the single run he'd allowed at that point and the Boston Red Sox crumbled from there.
During the game, some fans noticed some brown flecks on the right side of Gray's neck, on the same side as his pitching arm. Speculation about cheating ran rampant on social media despite the veteran passing all his in-game hand and glove checks from the umpires.
Chris Cotillo on October 6 reported that MLB investigated Gray for the potential use of illegal substances. Since Gray has not been officially disciplined by the league and he passed all the in-game examinations, Cotillo assumes he's in the clear.
While it was evident that Gray had something on his neck, it didn't look like pine tar, which can be seen in dark, glossy layers on players' helmets and bats. in April 2024, Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was ejected for using pine tar, which he rubbed on his neck before the game, to improve his grip on the ball. The pine tar was in a uniform smear on his neck and not pilled up, as whatever was on Gray's neck appeared.
MLB investigated Red Sox's Sonny Gray for rumors of illegal sticky substance use in Wild Card Game 2 against Yankees
If there was something sticky on Gray's neck that remained there after he rubbed his fingers over it before nearly every batter, it would remain on his hands when he presented them to umpires to be checked after every inning.
It wasn't even unique for Gray to touch his neck before every pitch — he's been seen doing the same swiping motion on the side of his neck countless times. Using sweat to increase the stickiness of rosin on one's hands, a completely legal substance, is a trick used by pitchers throughout the league over many years.
Gray was the Sox's ace all season and he gave his teammates a great start in the postseason without cheating. His 2.72 ERA over 169 innings this season and 1.98 ERA in two starts against the Yankees aren't indicative of someone who needs extra, illegal help to get through games.
Gray is an impending free agent and the Sox's 2027 rotation will miss him dearly. He was the only righty in the rotation and his 18 wins matched Garrett Crochet's total in 2025. Both pitchers were incredibly effective stoppers in their full seasons with Boston.
Gray's tenure with the Red Sox didn't end on the best note, as he was dissatisfied with Tracy's decision to pull him so early in the game. But if Boston seeks a reunion with Gray, it can do so in good conscience, knowing he didn't use illegal substances in a playoff game.
Add us as a preferred source on Google