Red Sox: Five players that will carry Boston back to the Postseason

Red Sox SP: Chris Sale

Ladies and gentlemen, Christopher Allen Sale is a bad bad man and the rest of the league has to deal with this menace. Much like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re gonna get when a pitcher returns from Tommy John Surgery. Well, if we want to give a grade to The Boogeyman based on his early results then my guy has himself an A+.

Getting Sale back in 2021 was the moment that Red Sox Nation was anticipating the most. It was clear that the team wouldn’t rush his recovery and thankfully that gameplan was the right way to play things.

Taking their time is what has made Sale so effective so far in his return as he got plenty of reps in simulated outings, as well as, minor league starts. Now he’s back at full strength and he’s back to being the psycho that we all know and love.

It’s been a blast seeing Sale back on the mound and making hitters look downright stupid in the batter’s box. Last night Javy Baez actually struck out on a pitch that hit him. The ball hit him and he still swung at it!

Against the Mets, he tossed five innings of six-hit ball while also striking out eight and walking a pair. New York was able to pick up two earned off of the southpaw but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.

Since returning to the team, Sale is 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 35 innings of work. I’ll count myself in the group that was worried that we may not see him perform at a level we once knew but his 13.3/2.3 K/BB ratio has put those fears to rest. Along with Nathan Eovaldi, he’s easily one of if not the most important pitchers the Red Sox have right now.