Red Sox News: Boston Gets Good Update on Chris Sale Injury

Even though the Boston Red Sox have been one of the better American League teams this season, it's no secret that they miss having left-handed starting pitcher Chris Sale on the mound. The seven-time MLB All-Star has been out of the lineup since March 2020 after underdoing Tommy John surgery. While it seems like he's been out of the lineup forever, the light at the end of the tunnel is finally getting closer for Boston and its fans.

Sale has spent the last little while with the organization's Triple-A affiliate in Worcester, MA, working out with bullpen sessions. Fortunately, it seems like his hard work is paying off. The Red Sox got a good update on Sale's injury on Saturday as The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reported that he'll have two more bullpen sessions next week and could face live hitters in the following week.

Cora says Sale has a bullpen Tuesday and Friday next week then could face live hitters the following week. He'll likely do those live BP sessions in Portland because Worcester will be on the road.
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) June 19, 2021

Chris Sale Injury Update

Considering how long the Red Sox have had to play without Sale, this is nothing short of a great update. Even though Boston has a 42-28 record on the season, its team ERA sits at 4.26, which ranks in the bottom half (17th) of the league. Getting Sale back on the mound would do wonders in improving that category.

The baseball world hasn't seen Sale pitch in a meaningful game since the 2019 MLB season. He finished that campaign by going 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA — the worst season of his career and the first time he missed out on being an all-star since 2011. The hope is that his Tommy John surgery will help him return to his 2018 form. Sale finished that season with a 12-4 record and absurd 2.11 ERA while striking out a career-high 13.5 batters per 9 innings pitched.

The Red Sox currently have the 2nd-best odds to win the AL East at +320, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, which puts them behind the +115 Tampa Bay Rays. Meanwhile, Boston's World Series odds sit at +2200 (T-10th). Sale's eventual return could boost the Red Sox's odds in both cases if he manages to look like his old self.

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