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Predicting Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day Starting Rotation for 2022

By Brendan Mizgala

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 29: A bullpen is constructed in the concourse in advance of a training period before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on June 29, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 29: A bullpen is constructed in the concourse in advance of a training period before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on June 29, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox starter Chris Sale
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the second inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 17, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Red Sox LHP: Chris Sale

I went back and forth with this one as it’s been quite some time since The Boogeyman has been available for Opening Day. However, this is also the first time in a while that Chris Sale has had a full offseason where he’s healthy. That could mean some very good things for the Red Sox and some very bad things for the rest of the league.

Sale had a mystery illness/injury during the 2018 Postseason that greatly stifled what he was able to do on the mound. Then 2019 saw him battle more hiccups until an elbow injury eventually ended his season. Tommy John wouldn’t be too far on the horizon and that cost him 2020 and most of 2021. But his return sparked hope and excitement in Red Sox Nation and in 2022 he can build on that.

He was able to compete for a chunk of the second half of the year which allowed him to earn a 5-1 record through 42.2 innings and finish with a 3.16 ERA. He also compiled an 11/2.5 K/BB which averaged him 4.33 whiffs for every walk, awesome.

We still don’t know what kind of restrictions may be placed upon the southpaw next season and with the lockout most likely delaying things, it may be some time before we find out. While I think the next guy on my list has also earned this right, I truly feel that it’ll be Sale with the ball in his hand on Opening Day.

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