The Boston Red Sox are the best team in baseball at the moment. Chris Sale has been a huge reason for why the team has such a great record entering the month of August. Unfortunately for Boston, Sale has been placed on the disabled list.
According to the Boston Red Sox, Chris Sale has been placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to July 28th due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
Sale’s team currently holds a 5.0 game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East Division. Although that may look like a comfortable lead, it is notable that the Yankees were already able to erase a 7.5 game deficit once already this season between April 20th and May 8th.
The timing of the trip to the disabled list is unfortunate as he will miss a start against the Yankees when the teams match up for a 4-game series starting on August 4th.
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The good news for the Red Sox is that it sounds as if Sale will only miss one start. According to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe, the organization is calling the shoulder inflammation “mild” and they expect Sale to return from the disabled list as soon as he is eligible to return.
As Sale has already logged 141.0 innings pitched this season, it may be a good time for the ace lefty to get some extra rest. Especially since he was unable to rest during the All-Star break as he was called upon to start for the American League in the mid-summer classic.
Sale is currently 11-4 on the season with a 2.04 ERA through 22 starts. He has compiled 207 strikeouts already compared to only 33 walks. He also owns a 2.08 FIP and a 0.87 WHIP on the season.
The Red Sox have bigger plans this season than winning one series against their rivals. Therefore, it makes sense to take the cautious approach with Sale and give him an extended rest regardless of any upcoming opponents.