The Red Sox announced that they’ve placed left-handed ace Chris Sale on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 15, with mild inflammation in his pitching shoulder. The club recalled righty Brandon Workman from Triple-A Pawtucket in a corresponding move.
Sale previously went to the DL on July 31 (retroactive to the 28th) with the same injury, which perhaps makes this an alarming development for Boston. However, given that the Red Sox own the American League’s best record by a comfortable 10 1/2 games, this may be a precautionary move on their part as the playoffs draw closer. The last time he hit the DL, Sale missed a limited amount of time, returning Aug. 12 to run roughshod over the toothless Orioles in a five-inning, one-hit, 12-strikeout performance.
With his latest outing factored in, Sale has pitched to a stunning 1.97 ERA/1.96 FIP with 13.5 K/9 against 2.03 BB/9 in 146 innings this season. Even though 13 other AL starters have racked up more innings than Sale, he paces the league in fWAR (6.0). The seven-time All-Star, 29, may be on his way to his first Cy Young Award, then, though an extended stay on the shelf could derail that effort.
Seems like a way to cut back his innings/workload down the stretch with a big lead, yet still get another arm on the team so it doesn’t stress others’ workloads. I’m not buying this as a legitimate injury.
Me either. He threw around 90 pitches in the last game, was hitting 98-100mph and had his wipeout slider. Think this is nothing more than getting him some rest for the post season with the 10+ game lead. Why not?
I’m not sure I buy it either (and obviously, I don’t want to xD). On DL, comes back and throws five absolutely destructive innings against the Orioles, on DL again now. Certainly feels like they’re just trying to get him extra rest so he’s ready for October.
Of course, I also desperately hope this is the case…
Hey Kat—you are desperate for this to be the case, however as the article pointed out his last game was against at the toothless Orioles.
If this is Trader Dave smoke for the real thing, then September will be a long month and October will be a short month.
Darn All-Star Game, still paying the price just like Pedro did back in 1999. I know it’s comforting for my fellow Sox fans to convince themselves it’s a ploy “just to get extra rest”, but he is obviously hurt. That’s what happens with inflammation. Your shoulder/knee/whatever feels fine so you go all-out to test it, and then you see how it responds over the next day or two. If it flares up the next day, you’ve got your answer.
If it was just for extra rest, they would go with a 6-man rotation and give Price some much-needed rest as well.
Hope Sale gets well soon.
With Price you will soon see his control disappear as a sign of TJ surgery needed.
As usual bringing nothing to the table. Go crawl back under the bridge troll. Damn you are ugly even for a troll.
Not a good sign. They were already limiting his innings by having him pitch each Sunday.
And he threw only 68 pitches last Sunday.
Anybody who thinks this is a ploy for “extra rest” is delusional.
Hopefully we’re wrong…
When workloads are as rigugrous as an MLB starters, every bit of rest counts. If you think he wouldn’t benefit from the extra rest because he only threw 60 odd pitches the other day, you’re the delusional one.
I always thought Sale was hurt, as I thought Porcello could have been last yr. But I think Sale needs rest.
… resting. Good idea.
He’s throwing harder than ever and now has to deal with the injuries that come with it
So is that the new norm? Big series coming up against a tough opponent and Sale goes on the DL?
Bruh, you need help.
He wasn’t even scheduled to pitch against the Indians…
He’s the best pitcher in the AL…
Sale never has been the best pitcher in September as he fades and he won’t be this year in October.
And the clown crawls out from under his bridge to troll.
MauiDan: He was set to pitch tomorrow so he wasn’t pitching against Cleveland regardless. While the team wants to remain hot and is trying for a record year, they’re next big game is in October.
If his turn was coming up for series against Indians, I could see Sox stashing him away. Tribe has always hit him hard. Could be a case where they don’t want Cle to get a look at him before possible postseason matchup.
Sox will not face the Tribe in the postseason. The Astros or A’s will play Cleveland, and the Indians won’t advance.
You realize the games have to be played first?
Sure, but in my opinion they won’t beat Oakland or Houston even if Bauer didn’t have a broken leg.
That’s what this messageboard thing is all about, sharing opinions … right? ;O)
I’ll be honest Cleveland scares me in a series if Bauer is healthy by the playoffs. They can throw Kluber, Bauer, and Carrasco at you that is a scary three if healthy.
I seem to remember no one thinking the Indians would advance in 2016 and they ended up pooping on Big Papi’s farewell party…
Too back up with stats, he is 5-8 with a 4.72 era in his career against tribe. In 2 starts last year he gave up a combined 13 ER in just 8 innings.
His turn in the rotation is Sunday… he would not have pitched against Cleveland.. they have 5 starters…do the math..
I thought it was to rest and prevent his annual September collapse, but the injury in question sounds “serious” I.E at least believable. Sale’s a beast. Hope he gets better soon, Want to beat the Red Sox at their best.
Bruh, not this year.
Bruh
What Bruh?
I still think it’s to rest him for September, but I agree (but in the world series)
but in the World Series what?
Let’s not count those chickens so soon…
Agreed. To have him pitch weekly and try to stay fresh while limiting his innings sounded reasonable. Two DL stints in such a short time leaves room to worry. 10 day DL is short but this was in my view not orinally planned.
Yea, but to be honest I was mainly addressing the beat Sox aspect, because he dominates…
That’s funny. They couldn’t even beat them when Sale wasn’t there.
Same way Xab, true Sox fans feel about Judge. Injuries though are part of the game. Always were and always will be.
Yup. If Rice hadn’t gotten hit in ’75, the Sox would have won it all that year too. Many more examples of key Sox injuries preventing championships.
FPG…the Big Red Machine would’ve still found a way to win.
Sorry fiber but we disagree here although we’ll never know. A healthy Rice in place of an overwhelmed Cecil Cooper could have been the difference.
Agree to disagree then…
It’s impossible to know for sure but have to believe a healthy Rice might of been the difference. Unfortunately we will never know.
Yep. But again injuries are part of the game and I don’t recall if the Reds had any. Pitchers perhaps?
Oh come on now …. without Rice the Sox still managed to make it to Game 7, and three of their four losses were by just one run.
If you don’t think a guy with a .309 BA. .491 SLG and 102 RBI wouldn’t have made a difference over a guy who batted .172 with a .167 OBP then there’s nothing more to say.
The Sox would’ve had much better chance in 75 with Rice.
I forget the name of the Tiger pitcher that hit him.
And the Sox are pulling a Kershaw with Sale. They want him fresh at the end of September
People forget how dominant Rice was in 75.. it would be the same as if this RSox team lost JD Martinez.. except in 75 Rice could run.. JD.. not so much
TYJE—I hope that you realize that your blessing could foreshadow the ending of JD’s season.
It’s ok for them to deal with serious injuries just like the rest of the leaders.
He’ll be gone till early to mid September. Just in time to make 4 starts to end the season and help the Sox to a World Series push. No reason to rush him back. Screw the Cy-young award his primary focus should be to win a championship
fWAR…isn’t that what Michael Pineda lead the league in, one year, even though he had an ERA around 4.50?
No. Pineda’s career-high fWAR is 3.5.
Nope. Pineda never led the league in FWar or bWAR.
All the reports from Ian Browne / Rob Bradford / Carrabis say that if they division race was tighter Sale would be pitching and not on the DL, so that in and of itself is comforting.
But the fact that he’s on the DL is still a bit of concern.
The Sox aren’t going for 116 wins and Sale doesn’t care about the Cy Young, all the team wants to do is win the title. Something they won’t do unless Sale is his dominant self, so rest him as much as possible between now and October.
I wish Chris Sale had Twitter so I could share my displeasure with him via the internet for messing up my Fantasy Baseball team, but he doesn’t have Twitter and I don’t even play Fantasy Baseball, so I guess it won’t happen.
Get Home Field throughout the playoffs.
At this time of year it continues to give you the best chance to advance.
81818———today back and forth.
81918———tomorrow back and forth
Have some fun to the NESN pregame.
These uniforms are too tight fitting.
The Red Sox would be better off playing in some old retro uniforms for a while.
Lol good one
*the beakless Orioles.
Sale on the DL this month is one step past the Patriots listing Brady as questionable each week. Sale is taking a forced rest. He doesn’t want to because he believes he’s letting his teammates down but he sees the 10.5 game lead and finds it hard to argue. He’s not about awards so if he loses the Cy Young it will bother the fans more than Sale.
If the Yankees close the gap by two games, he’ll be back. The number one spot is too important but while the Yankees flounder against bad teams, it’s a great chance to charge his battery and minimize risk.
Good move whether overly cautious or not. Sale is great, but his dominance goes away in September (seems to run out of gas). That’s at least what happened on the South Side of Chicago. Hope this allows him to have his elite stuff in money time.
It will… and then after rosters are expanded in September they will simply be able to just skip his turn and not DL him.
Mild inflammation in his shoulder… isn’t that why pitchers ice their arms after a start?
I’m a huge Red Sox fan, but this is fishy. I don’t believe this would be DL worthy if the division was closer. It’s a nice luxury to have I guess but feels very disingenuous.