Sonny Gray Addresses Early Wild Card Hook and MLB Neck Substance Probe

Sonny Gray expressed frustration after manager Chad Tracy pulled him at 70 pitches (4.2 IP, solo HR allowed) in Boston's season-ending 9-2 Wild Card loss to the Yankees. Gray criticized analytics over veteran experience and noted uncertainty about returning in free agency ("I don't know"). Additionally, MLB investigated a strange discolored substance spotted on Gray's neck during the start, but umpires cleared him after post-inning checks showed no elevated spin rates.