Way Too Early Take: Boston Red Sox Pitcher Chris Sale is Going to Win the AL Cy Young in 2017

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale is on fire so far in 2017. If he keeps this up, he’ll be the AL Cy Young winner when the season ends.

Chris Sale finally earned his first win in a Boston Red Sox uniform this week, though he still is not getting much run support. Sale has been lights out in his first three starts of the year, as he has not given up more than 2 runs in any single outing. He has a 1.25 ERA over his 21.2 innings pitched.

Some say Chris Sale is putting up Pedro Martinez-like numbers. Over there first three starts for the Red Sox, both were spectacular.

• 1998 Pedro Martinez: 23 innings, 12 hits, 1 run, 7 walks, 32 strikeouts.
• 2017 Chris Sale Sale: 21 2/3 innings, 11 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks, 29 strikeouts

In case you’ve forgotten already, Pedro was an absolute monster on the mound.

In his win over the Rays this week, Sale could not be touched, save for one inning. He shut down the last 10 batters he faced, including strikeouts of five in a row. He recorded 12 strikeouts on the day.

Chris Sale now joins Martinez in 1998 as the only Red Sox pitchers since 1913 to pitch at least seven innings, give up no more than two runs and strike out at least seven batters in his first three games of a season.

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Sale hasn’t gotten much from his teammates on offense, but he seems to be okay with that.

"“That’s how you like it, man. I like that. I like going out there and being in those games. I want to be that guy that can get a ‘W’ in those games. If they’ve all got to be like that, so be it. I look forward to that challenge.”"

The pitcher is looking for his first-ever Cy Young Award, and this could be his year. Sale’s best season came in 2014 when he went 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA and 208 strikeouts. He’s on pace to shatter those numbers.

Of course, Chris Sale will have a bad outing or two like any pitcher does.

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For now, though, I fully expect the Cy Young to end up in Boston for the second straight season. This time it will go to the new ace on the staff.