Pedro Oliveira
The Boston Red Sox had a very disappointing start to the season as they accumulated a 10-19 record in 2022, and the injury of Chris Sale is one of the main causes for this inconsistent start by the American League East Division franchise. First, he missed the start of the season with a rib injury, and Alex Cora’s team keeps receiving negative updates about the health status of the main ace in the rotation.
Chris Sale’s Injury: The Big Picture
According to the latest updates surrounding the 33-year-old veteran left-hander, Sale is reportedly delayed by at least a couple of weeks in the rehabilitation of his fracture. That is due to another medical condition that was not disclosed until now, but has nothing to do with baseball activities and has nothing to do with the COVID-19 virus: it is a completely personal case separate from his physical or immunological condition. It was expected that by mid-May, he could begin the process of joining Boston’s major leagues roster, but that date has just been moved to June at best.
Since 2019 until the present campaign, the seven-time All-Star racked up 190 innings in a 4.12 ERA, 11-12 mark, 1.14 WHIP, 3.46 FIP and 270 strikeouts, with Tommy John surgery suffered in late 2019 keeping him out in 2020 and much of 2021. All in all, Sale’s performance has been at a level very close to what he has been accustomed to in his 11-year career, but his health has been increasingly difficult to maintain, at least in terms of time on the mound.
Chris isn’t the only absent starter in the Red Sox rotation, as James Paxton (newly acquired last preseason) is also suffering delays in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, with discomfort in the back of his pitching elbow, putting his possible return in July or August at risk. Rich Hill was diagnosed with COVID-19 in previous days, and Michael Wacha was also placed on the injured list for intercostal irritation.
Hill and Wacha have been quality options for Boston, but their absences mean even tougher times for the franchise, having to rely on a solid Nathan Eovaldi, a deficient Nick Pivetta, and two relievers who are becoming starters, with Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck being the guinea pigs of this experiment.
Can the Boston Red Sox bounce back in the MLB, even with their multiple injury absences? Or are they doomed to belong at the bottom of the division along with the Baltimore Orioles?
