Chris Sale
Chris Sale has been the ace of the rotation since arriving in Boston in 2017. He more than retained that title with his run in 2018. Sale dazzled and dominated from April through October. I’m sure some you are shouting at your screens at me putting Sale as #2, but hear me out.
Yes, he had a great season finishing with a 12-4 record and a 2.11 ERA. This is a totally respectable stat line for any pitcher. Sale was even an early favorite for the CY Young.
But he would miss some time later in the season only pitching a few times in September. The postseason came about everyone was ready to see what Sale would do. Sale would dazzle the Yankees in the ALDS and walk out of Game 1 with a victory. That’s where things went a little haywire.
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Chris would miss the ALCS with a mystery stomach ailment. It was never fully explained what was wrong with Sale other than he had to go to the ER after Game 1 to get checked out. Some reported a stomach bug other just the vague “abdomen ailment.” But we wouldn’t see Sale again until the World Series.
He again would start Game 1 but would leave the game and gain a no-decision after going 4+ innings, giving up 3 runs and striking out 7. Not a bad showing but not what we came to expect from the fireballing lefty.
Sale would earn his spot in Red Sox lore by coming in during the 9th inning of Game 5 of the World Series. He would strike out the side, with the final victim being Red Sox nemesis Manny Machado.
But with question marks still surrounding his mystery stomach ailment and the shoulder issues he missed much of September with, I’d like to see Sale in the two hole.