Boston Red Sox flickering playoff hopes take another hit
By David Hill
The Boston Red Sox already shaky playoff hopes took another hit on Saturday, as Chris Sale was placed on the Injured List.
Just a year after winning the World Series, the Boston Red Sox have been one of the biggest disappointments of 2019. They have not led the AL East at all this season, and at 17 games out of first, do not appear to be in any position to change that stat. Likewise, their playoff hopes are barely flickering, as the Red Sox find themselves seven games out of the second Wild Card heading into action on Sunday.
On Saturday, those playoff hopes took another hit. Chris Sale, the Red Sox nominal ace, was placed on the Injured List with left elbow inflammation. Not only may he not pitch again this season, but Dr. James Andrews will be providing a second opinion on the results of his MRI.
Bad news on Chris Sale. Per #RedSox president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski:
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) August 17, 2019
- Sale may not pitch again this year.
- Will get second opinion from Dr. James Andrews (almost never good sign).
- Left elbow inflammation is new.
Boston's 6.5 games back in Wild Card. 38 games left.
The timing of this injury could not be worse for the Red Sox. Sale had signed a five year extension worth $145 million, which is set to begin next season. Although he had missed time in 2018 with shoulder issues, Sale was expected to be a workhorse once again, the staff ace that could lead Boston back to the World Series once again.
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This injury is just another blow in what has been a rough season for Sale. He has struggled with consistency virtually all season, looking almost unhittable in one inning, and then getting hammered the next. Overall, Sale posted a disappointing 6-11 record, with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.086 WHiP, surrendering 24 homers in 147.1 innings.
However, Sale pitched better than the raw numbers would indicate. He still possessed solid command and dominated at times, striking out 218 batters with just 37 walks. Sale also posted a 3.30 FIP for the year, more than a full run lower than his ERA.
Those underlying metrics had to give the Red Sox hope that Sale would eventually snap out of his malaise, and lead the charge to a playoff berth. Instead, he is likely gone for the season, another blow to a rotation that had lost David Price. Add in the struggles of the bullpen, and the less than stellar results from trade acquisition Andrew Cashner, and the Red Sox playoff hopes have taken yet another major hit.
Next. Eovaldi moving back to the rotation. dark
The Boston Red Sox playoff hopes were already fading. With the news that Chris Sale may be done for the year, those hopes may be all but gone.