Setback for Sale
Non-baseball medical issue pushes his return deeper into season
BOSTON — Chris Sale (right rib-cage fracture) had a setback that stalled his throwing progression, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom announced Saturday afternoon prior to a game against the White Sox.
Bloom said the setback was not related to Sale’s injury, calling it a non-baseball medical issue that is personal. The Sox did not elaborate, other than to indicate it was not COVID-19-related.
“He should be back throwing in a matter of days, but it’s obviously slowing him down,” Bloom said.
The Sox placed Sale on the 60-day injured list prior to the regular season. They had planned on activating the left-hander around June 7. That date has now been pushed back.
“I think we’re talking a few weeks in total beyond that,” Bloom said. “It could be a little past [late June]. I don’t know exactly.”
Sale had been throwing short bullpen sessions leading up to the setback. He has pitched just 190 innings since the start of 2019 and underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2020.
Whitlock in rotation: The Red Sox officially moved Garrett Whitlock to the rotation for now. Tanner Houck will remain in the bullpen.
Whitlock has made three starts this year. Wednesday’s against the Angels was his best.
The right-hander went five innings, striking out nine without allowing a baserunner until the fifth.
Whitlock was the Sox’s best reliever last year and continued that into this season. He could continue to be a lockdown reliever in a bullpen that has blown seven saves (most in the majors), but for now the team feels he’s better suited for the rotation.
The Jarren Duran redemption tour lasted just one game.
Kiké Hernández was activated
Duran return short-lived;
from the COVID-19 IL and Duran was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester.
Duran has a .397 average with a .478 on-base percentage and two homers for the WooSox. He’s made adjustments to his swing, not selling out for power and instead focusing on hitting ball to all fields and utilizing his speed.
It’s an approach manager Alex Cora believes is more in line with the type of player Duran is.
“He’s not caught up in hitting the ball in the air and hitting home runs,” Cora said. “Now he understands what he has to do. And he is a guy that if it happens, he’s going to be a leadoff guy at this level.”
Duran was 1-for-4 with a triple in Friday’s 4-2 loss to the White Sox . ... Rich Hill tested positive for COVID-19 along with game-planning coordinator/catching coach Jason Varitek. Whitlock will start in Hill’s place Tuesday at Atlanta, followed by Nate Eovaldi on Wednesday . ... James Paxton (Tommy John surgery) had a minor setback due to left posterior elbow soreness and was shut down. The Red Sox hope to get him going again soon.