Chris Sale set to face former team
The Red Sox will see an old friend onWednesday when Boston takes on Atlanta and pitcher Chris Sale. The left-hander, when healthy, was very effective. The seven time all star won a World Series with the Red Sox but endured multiple injuries limiting his time in Boston. He was traded this offseason for infielder Vaughn Grissom.
Alex Cora recently spoke about how it will be both “great” and “awkward” to go up against his former ace. “The guy is special,” Cora told reporters. “I know people make jokes about him, the injuries and the bike and all that stuff, which I think is (expletive) (expletive) because this guy did everything possible to be on the field.”
Sale was a big part of the championship team in 2018. He got the save and game winning strikeout to clinch a title. He signed a six-year 160 million dollar contract and then the injuries came. He needed Tommy John surgery which kept him out until late in 2021. He had a rib injury in 2022 that derailed his season and a shoulder injury in 2023 after much rehab would be his final season at Fenway. “I had great experiences with everyone there, Sale said. I have a lot of love and respect for everyone over there. they were in my corner when I needed them most. I’ll always appreciate that and I’ll never take it for granted.”
Sale’s résumé includes a 120-80 record, a 3.10 ERA over 1,780⅔ innings and 2,189 strikeouts, more than five times his walks issued. Sale’s 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings remains the highest mark ever for a starter. The Braves extended Sale in the offseason and has pitched a combined 12 innings and only surrendered a pair of runs in his last two starts.