Sale inches closer to Red Sox return
Pitched 4 innings, struck out 7 in third rehab start
PORTLAND, MAINE » In some ways, Chris Sale may have experienced some déjà vu as he returned to Hadlock Field for a rehab start with the Sea Dogs on Thursday night.
Last summer, just like now, Sale was making rehab starts in Portland as he eyed a midseason return to Boston, where he looked to contribute to a Red Sox team in the midst of a playoff race.
But one year later, the Red Sox pitcher is in a much different spot from when he was coming back from Tommy John surgery. He’s not worrying about his left elbow anymore after having major surgery on it. Now, as he returns from a stress fracture in his right rib cage he suffered in February, Sale isn’t holding anything back.
“This is a different scenario for me being here from last year,” Sale said. “Last year, it was obviously tougher coming back from the surgery, Tommy John and all that. So I feel like last year when I was here, I was searching for some stuff. I was still working on things.
“Now I just feel like I’m starting to sharpen the tools.”
Those tools look like they’re almost ready.
Sale inched closer to his highlyanticipated return to Boston with another strong start on Thursday in Portland, his third rehab outing after two in the Florida Complex League. The left-hander was expected to go three innings, but ended up pitching four innings. He allowed four hits and one run, but didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven — including striking out the side in the fourth to end his night on a high note.
Sale said he actually expected to go out for a fifth inning, but the up and downs were enough after he threw 52 pitches, 36 for strikes that included 16 swings and misses. His fastball had life, sitting at 94-95 mph and touching 96 a few times, while his slider and changeup played well, too.
What’s next? Sale could pitch another rehab start next week when Worcester is back at home. The Red Sox have said they want him to pitch five innings in a minor league start before his return to Boston. Realistically, he could pitch one more rehab start before returning to the Red Sox before the All-star break.
Sale sounds more than ready. “If they told me that I’m starting five days from now, I wouldn’t flinch,” Sale said. “I would be excited for that. … If I can get through 5- 6 innings and be like I was today, I think we’d be ready to go for the next one, but my hands are off the wheels. If they tell me I got one five days from now or whatever it is, it is what it is. … “I’m waiting on a phone call.” Sale liked his velocity Thursday night — he hit 96 mph four times
— noting that number was “as important as the socks I’m wearing.” He was more concerned about how hitters are reacting to his pitches. On Thursday, they took advantage of some bad ones, including a 94 mph fastball that was drilled off the left-field wall for an RBI double by New Hampshire’s Chris Bec.
But that’s part of the process, and Sale was encouraged by his two-seamer and changeup. The improvement of his changeup is an important development. Last season when he returned, it wasn’t an effective pitch, and he was a two-pitch pitcher most of the time with his fastball and slider.
But after working on his changeup relentlessly in the offseason — which included a lot of work with Nick Pivetta — it’s a pitch that Sale seems to have much more confidence in this year. He used it for a swing-andmiss putaway pitch on one of his seven strikeouts Thursday.
“I knew the two things I needed to work on coming into this year was arm strength coming off the surgery and that third pitch,” Sale said. “It’s something I take a lot of pride in. I need that, especially moving forward. With as much scouting as there is, as much video as there is, having a third pitch to equalize will help me a lot.”
Sale, who said in March that he’s unvaccinated against COVID-19, dismissed a question Thursday asking him if his vaccination status has changed and if he’s considering getting vaccinated so he can be available for games in Toronto later this year. He said, “No. I just had a lot of fun. Let’s not ruin that, all right? I’m enjoying this process. I appreciate being where I’m at, what I’m doing. Today’s today, tomorrow’s going to come. We’ll figure that (expletive) out then, man.”
But Sale is eager for his return. He’s thrown 42 2/3 innings for the Red Sox since the end of the 2019 season, and like last season, he said he’s missed playing greatly during his time away from the team. He’s ready to hop on board and be a valuable contributor for another push to October.
“We’re playing really well, and that’s what this whole process is for,” Sale said. “Again, I love being here. I love the guys in Worcester. The boys down in Florida, they know I love them. But this whole process is getting back to Boston and doing what I need to do to do my job, and that’s help that team win, and again, bring another championship to Boston.
“I’m itching to get back, that’s for sure.”