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MLB awards watch: MVP races

By John Buhler

Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a game winning, walk-off three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a game winning, walk-off three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 20, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) delivers a pitch against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) delivers a pitch against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

American League No. 4

4

Chris Sale

LHP, Boston Red Sox

New team, no problem. Five-time American League All-Star Chris Sale left the South Side in Chicago to play for the other Sox in the Junior Circuit. Since arriving in spring training with the Boston Red Sox, Sale has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the American League this season.

Though he is only 1-1 in four starts for the Red Sox, Sale has been lights-out atop the Boston rotation. He has an 0.91 ERA, a 0.708 WHIP and an otherworldly ERA+ of 469. Sale is leading the league in FIP at 1.16 and strikeouts with 42. Needless to say, he’ll be a big reason Boston goes as far as it does in October.

The Red Sox are hanging tough in the strong American League East. Through 19 games, they are 11-8 and in third place in the division. However, that’s good enough for the second AL Wild Card spot. Boston is only half a game back of the arch rival New York Yankees and just two games back of the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles.

Sale is in a rotation with two former AL Cy Young winners in Rick Porcello and David Price. Boston is in need of a new identity after the retirement of designated hitter David Ortiz. This team is young and talented. Look for the Boston rotation to be lethal enough to help the Red Sox win the AL pennant this October.

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