Boston Red Sox 2018 player grades: Chris Sale

Chris Sale was dominant yet again this season and led the Boston Red Sox pitching staff all season long. What grade does Sale get for 2018?

It’s a shame that Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale wasn’t able to finally bring home his first AL Cy Young Award this season.

Sale looked like the clear front-runner in July, as he had been dominating all season long and was carrying the strong Boston Red Sox pitching rotation to the best record in baseball. Through July, the southpaw was 11-4 with a 2.04 ERA and had 207 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched.

It appears as if Sale has been unlucky when it comes to winning the AL Cy Young Award, as he has finished in the top six of voting in each of the last seven years. Sale injured his left shoulder in July and was placed on the 15-day DL on July 31st.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

He would pitch just 17 innings the rest of the regular season.

Sale finished 4th in voting after going 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA and a 0.861 WHIP in 158 innings, striking out 237.

In the postseason, Sale had a lot to prove. In 2017, Sale struggled tremendously in the postseason despite having a spectacular regular season. In the ALDS against the Astros in 2017, he went 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA.

Unfortunately, Sale was unable to return to his dominant self once again in the postseason. Sale entered the playoffs without pitching more than 5 innings since July 27 due to his injury.

In the ALDS against the Yankees, the 29-year-old gave up two runs in 5.1 innings in his lone start of the series in Game 1 and pitched a scoreless inning out of relief in Game 4.

In the ALCS against the Astros, Sale was the starting pitcher in the Red Sox lone loss of the series. He yielded two runs in just four innings and did not make the trip to Houston due to a stomach illness.

In the World Series, Sale was once again unable to make a quality start. In Game 1, he gave up three runs over just four innings.

Although many believed Sale would start the potential closing game of the series in Game 5, manager Alex Cora surprised many by electing to start David Price on three days rest rather than Sale on full rest.

Sale pitched the last inning of Game 5, striking out the side in order. Overall in the playoffs, Sale went 1-0 with a 4.11 ERA and struck out 24 batters over 15.1 innings.

The Grade

Sale’s regular season is certainly an A, but Sale’s postseason mediocrity has become noticeable. It is unknown if Sale’s shoulder was 100% in the playoffs, but he did not have nearly the same dominance in the postseason as he had in the regular season.

It is unfortunate that Sale got injured in July as it appeared that he was a lock for the Cy Young leading up to that point. Nonetheless, Sale is one of the best pitchers in the majors and one of the best Red Sox pitchers of all time.

In 2019, Sale will be in the last year of his team-friendly contract. Look for Sale to be determined to overcome his postseason struggles and help lead the Red Sox to back-to-back World Series titles.