Boston Red Sox: Adjusting Chris Sale’s schedule for a playoff push
The Boston Red Sox have strategically adjusted Chris Sale’s pitching and rest schedule in hopes they secure the American League East division title.
During the 2017 season, the Boston Red Sox have been providing their newly acquired ace, Chris Sale, with extra rest on occasion. However, with the season winding down and three series remaining against the New York Yankees, the Red Sox are adjusting Sale’s schedule so they will have him on the mound in each of those series.
The Boston Red Sox have been careful all season to monitor Sale’s innings so that he remains fresh in August, September and hopefully October. Wednesday night’s game was rained out and Red Sox manager John Farrell said the starting rotation schedule will be pushed back one day. This allows Sale to get six days of rest before pitching at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. This also prevents Sale from pitching against his former team, the Chicago White Sox.
This allows Sale to get six days of rest before pitching at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. This also prevents Sale from pitching against his former team, the Chicago White Sox.
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Farrell also added that Sale will remain on his normal schedule the next few times through the rotation to guarantee that he starts one game in each of the three remaining series against the Yankees. The Boston Red Sox have Sale penciled in as the starter for August 13 at Yankee Stadium for Sunday Night Baseball. He is also scheduled for August 19 at Fenway Park and September 3 at Yankee Stadium.
Currently, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are in a tight race for the American League East division title. Boston (60-49) has a two-game lead over New York.
“You look ahead, there’s three series against New York,” Farrell said. “Chris is mapped out to be in every one of them. You balance rest, but then you also look at how do you match up and align guys going forward? Thought the extra day was important for him [this week].”
Throughout his career, Sale has been a dominant force the Yankees have yet to figure out. He’s posted 1.17 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) including two games (15.2 innings) this season where he surrendered two earned runs and struck out 23 hitters.
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The lefty ace is also leading the American League in ERA (2.70), strikeouts (216), innings pitched (153.1) and is tied for the lead in wins (13). The Boston Red Sox acquired Sale over the winter and have taken advantage of his dominance. They’ll need him to continue that dominance in their upcoming series against New York if they want to secure the AL East division title.