Cardinals' Sonny Gray Credits Odd Ritual for In-Game Improvement in Win vs. White Sox

Mike McDaniel | May 4, 2024

May 3, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches / Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray improved to 4-1 on the season after throwing seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball with six strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The 34-year-old Gray continued his torrid start to the season, improving his ERA to a stunning 0.89 through five starts, establishing himself as an early National League Cy Young candidate as the calendar turns to May.

While Gray put together another sterling start, a high-stress third inning caused him to reevaluate things in the dugout. Gray credited an odd in-game ritual for his turnaround and efficiency on the mound throughout the rest of the game.

"I've done this before," Gray told reporters after the game. "I just came in here after the third and took all my clothes off and got redressed with new cleats, socks, underwear, pants, belt, jersey and hat and said, 'You're a new guy, now start over.' So that's kind of how I reset it."

Sonny Gray needed a reset after a high-pitch third inning. What did he do? "I've done this before, but I came in [the clubhouse], took all of my clothes off and got redressed. New cleats, socks, underwear, pants, belt, jersey, hat. ... Kind of like, 'Alright, you're a new guy.'" pic.twitter.com/fJKLraWJAF

— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 4, 2024

Nothing like a mid-game wardrobe change to get the mind right!

St. Louis improved to 15-17 on the season and sits in fourth place in the NL Central.