Chad Tracy sheds light on controversial decision in the Yankees series

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Chad Tracy sheds light on controversial decision in the Yankees series

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated Oct 6, 2026 9:21 AM ET

With their season over, the Boston Red Sox have time to reflect on their 2026 MLB campaign, including their brief postseason run.

One thing that Red Sox manager Chad Tracy wanted to clear up during Boston’s end-of-season press

conference on Monday was the narrative surrounding his controversial decision to take pitcher Sonny Gray out of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees after pitching for only

4 2/3 innings. Gray wasn’t exactly happy about getting the early hook, but Tracy said that analytics didn’t predetermine his move on Gray.

“The biggest thing, for me, coming into this, was dispelling any notion of people thinking that decisions get made prior to the game, or with a piece of paper, or with a computer,” Tracy told reporters.

Chad Tracy says pulling Sonny Gray in Game 2 was his call. "The biggest thing, for me, coming into this, was dispelling any notion of people thinking that decisions get made prior to the game, or with a piece of paper, or with a computer." (Via: @NESN) https://t.co/BPW9MTR4Av
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) October 5, 2026

What’s clear is that the decision to lift Gray from the mound and replace him with Erik Miller backfired, as Miller allowed an RBI single to Cody Bellinger that stretched the Yankees’ lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning. New York went on to win the game, 9-2, booking its spot in the AL Division Series Round.

It remains to be seen whether Gray will continue to pitch for the Red Sox for at least one more season, but he has a mutual option for 2027.

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