Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale the savior in more ways than one
Well, here he comes. Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale is slated to make his first Major League start in over a year and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a team struggling to stay afloat in the American League East.
In an announcement made by Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Sunday, Sale will make his return against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Saturday. The scheduled start is a long time coming for the flame-throwing lefty, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow back in 2020.
But, as mentioned, it is the timing of that return that should give the Red Sox an injection of energy as he will not only strengthen the front end of that starting rotation, but also inject some energy in a ball club that has been masquerading as the walking dead really since the MLB Trade Deadline.
Boston Red Sox and fans leaning on the return of Chris Sale
While it’s unfair to have such high expectations of a pitcher returning from a long rehab process, this is Chris Sale and what he has shown during his rehab stints in Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester can only add a level of adrenaline for the team and obviously the player who is pumped up to return to the Major League level.
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"“I felt like what I did tonight, I could have gone and done that in a big-league game. I would say my last two starts, I’ve felt normal.,” Sale said following his rehab stint on Saturday, via MLb.com."
In that outing, Sale pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits while walking three and striking out eight.
In the meantime, his team was having a total meltdown against the Toronto Blue Jays in blowing a 7-2 lead in a 9-8 loss to the AL East rivals.
Chris Sale adds a new level of energy to the Boston Red Sox
Obviously, Chris Sale in his return can’t solve everything, but what he can do is fuel some energy into this Boston Red Sox team, especially if he is electric on the mound.
Will it be enough to get Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez rolling again?
Well, with less pressure on those two pitchers to take on that ace role, maybe they will regain their consistency and effectiveness. Sale does have a way of making the players around him better. If that also translates to the offense, even better.
But again, the Red Sox ace will be making his first start since August of 2019. He looks strong, but the team will still have to take it slow at first. Most importantly, it’s about preparing him mentally.
"“I do believe it’s more about preparing him this week for that and for the future,” Cora said of Sales return Saturday instead of Friday the 13th. “We got Monday off, Thursday off, so we’ll plan accordingly. We’ve got the doubleheader, too. I think it makes sense for everything that we’re giving to map out and trying to accomplish. It’s best for him that day.”"
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No matter when Sale makes his first start, just his presence should refuel this team. It will also help if the Red Sox take care of business against the Tampa Bay Rays leading up to the Orioles series. The front office didn’t make a move due to Sale’s return. Let’s hope he is the major addition they needed.