Red Sox’ Sonny Gray leaves game in third inning due to injury

BOSTON — The Red Sox built their 2026 team with a strong starting rotation as the foundation. Now, one of Boston’s key offseason additions appears to be hurt.

Starter Sonny Gray left Monday’s game against the Tigers in the third inning due to “right hamstring tightness,” according to the Red Sox. Gray walked off the field with manager Alex Cora and head athletic trainer Brandon Henry after a brief visit. Gray, who logged 2 ⅔ strong innings, appeared to tweak his hamstring while issuing a walk to Gleyber Torres.

First, pitching coach Andrew Bailey went out for a mound visit, only for Cora and Henry to join him on the mound seconds later. Gray threw a warm-up pitch in front of the group and decided to exit the game. Lefty Danny Coulombe entered in relief.

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Gray faced the minimum in his first two innings as the Red Sox built a 2-0 lead but labored in the third, allowing a leadoff double to Matt Vierling, who scored on a Jake Rogers RBI single. After striking out rookie Kevin McGonigle, Gray walked Torres and looked to be in discomfort. In total, Gray allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out two batters (while throwing 40 pitches). The outing, while abbreviated, was an improvement from a rough start in Minnesota in which he allowed five runs on nine hits (including two homers).