What happens to the Red Sox if Chris Sale doesn’t come back?
By Matt O'Leary
Chris Sale, who was hospitalized for a stomach illness, has been released but what if he’s not ready to go for his Game 5 start for the Red Sox?
29-year-old Chris Sale was phenomenal for the Boston Red Sox in the regular season. He made his seventh straight All-Star appearance while going 12-3 with a 2.11 ERA over the season. Fantastic numbers that may lead to his first Cy Young Award.
In the ALDS against the Yankees he had a 2.84 ERA in one start and a relief appearance in Game 4, but in the ALCS he struggled.
He went four innings allowing two earned runs over four innings of work. It was a very uncharacteristic start for Chris Sale. Unfortunately, for Sale, he was hospitalized the very next day for a stomach illness.
He’s since been released from the hospital and is set to join the team today. At some point, he has to throw a bullpen session before his Game 5 start, which would be on Thursday if he’s able to go. If not, the Red Sox are in some trouble.
Option A would be going with David Price on short rest. In the regular season Price is a phenomenal pitcher, but once the calendar flips to October he’s a different pitcher. For the first time in his postseason career, his team won a playoff game that he started, just this past Sunday.
He is now 2-9 with a 5.42 ERA in the postseason and so far this year he’s allowed seven runs in 6.1 innings of work this year. Ideally, you don’t have to pitch Price on short rest who is a prime candidate for some form of a meltdown.
Option B would be throwing Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez started 23 games for Boston in the regular season and finished with a 3.82 ERA and a 13-5 record. In the playoffs, he’s struggled allowing three runs in 2.2 innings of work.
Neither of those two options are great for Boston, and it can completly sway the series in the Astros favor in a pivotal Game 5. Ideally, Sale is ready to go and is healthy because you’re not confident in either Price or Rodriguez in that spot.
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The Red Sox offense is fantastic, but there’s no guarantee they’re able to overcome Price on three days rest or a spot start. The Sox fans better hope the baseball Gods are in their corner this time around because it could be real ugly on Thursday if anyone not named Chris Sale gets the ball.