Dejected Sale back on injured list
Shoulder inflammation sidelines pitcher
Just when it looked like Chris Sale had finally put his injury woes behind him, the Red Sox lefty finds himself facing yet another setback.
The Red Sox confirmed Friday that Sale is headed back to the 15day injured list with left shoulder inflammation and that righty Corey Kluber has been activated from the paternity leave list to fill his spot.
Sale, who missed most of the last three seasons due to a series of injuries, bounced back from a couple of rough early starts to put together a fantastic month of May and was finally starting to look like his old dominant self.
But now his future is again shrouded in uncertainty.
“I felt like I was over the hump, I really did. I felt like I was back to being myself,” Sale said. “And for something like this to happen is obviously deflating.”
Sale left Thursday’s start after 59 pitches, coming out in the fourth inning after his velocity noticeably dipped over the course of the game. He did not speak to the media postgame but called an impromptu press conference shortly before Friday’s original first pitch time and explained that he didn’t want to overshadow a great team win but also didn’t want to leave people hanging once he actually had some information to share.
“I didn’t want to completely leave you guys in the dark, I owe it to you guys, I owe it to our fans to at least show face,” Sale said. “Unfortunately that’s all I have, a little bit of information.”
Sale explained that he began feeling discomfort after making a pitch in the second inning and that the issue progressively got worse from there. He has since undergone an MRI and a CT scan and hopes to have more clarity on the exact nature of his injury and his recovery timetable at some point in the next week.
Though his tone was notably dejected throughout his remarks, Sale did provide an optimistic view of the injury’s severity.
“This isn’t anything that’s going to require any procedure I don’t think,” Sale said. “It’s just going to take time.”
Over his last six starts dating back to April 30, Sale was 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 41 strikeouts against only five walks over 36 innings. His ERA for the season still stands at 4.58, but that was mainly because of a couple of rough outings early on as Sale was still getting settled after so much lost time.
Put simply, he was getting back to being the ace the Red Sox hoped he could be, but now the club will again have to make due without him for at least the next two weeks, if not longer.
Arroyo to shortstop?
Christian Arroyo, who has been on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain since May 7, is expected to return to Boston on Saturday so he and the club can determine his plan going forward.
By the looks of it, that plan could involve Arroyo playing some shortstop.
Arroyo started at shortstop in his final rehab game with Worcester on Friday in Louisville, and Cora said that once he is activated they could use him at the position in the big leagues, too.
Given his injury history, is that a good idea? Cora suggested they don’t have any other choice.
“We need versatility in that spot, he has to play second, short, third, he has to move around with where we’re at roster-wise right now,” Cora said. “Things have changed from early in the season and versatility in his role now is very important.”
Outfielder Adam Duvall (fractured left wrist) played outfield for Worcester and will remain with the team for now as he continues working his way back. Duvall is eligible to come off the 60-day IL this coming Friday.
The Red Sox also announced Tanner Houck will start Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader against Tampa Bay, but they have not determined who will start the nightcap and it will depend in large part on how Friday played out.
‘Baseball is the best!’
In recognition of Lou Gehrig Day, the baseball world came together Friday to honor MLB reporter and researcher Sarah Langs, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 2021 and has since used her platform to raise awareness and money for ALS research.
Renowned for her bottomless well of baseball knowledge, relentless positivity in the face of horrible circumstances and her “baseball is the best” catchphrase, the 31-year-old has been subject of a litany of tributes from across the game since announcing her diagnosis last fall, and Friday the Red Sox offered their support by providing “baseball is the best” T-shirts to media members and team staff.
Alex Cora, who wore his shirt to his pregame press conference, also gave Langs a shoutout to close out his remarks.
“I had the pleasure of working with her in ESPN, I respect all of you and I know you know baseball, but wow, what a mind,” Cora said. “The way she goes about it, great teammate, smart baseball woman, I know we’re all fighting with her, so Sarah, this is for you.”