Chris Sale worked 3.2 innings for the Triple A Worcester WooSox on Wednesday night, in what many think will be his final minor league rehab start before returning to the Boston Red Sox rotation.
Sale issued a based loaded walk before being lifted in the fourth inning against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, the New York Yankees Triple A team. He allowed the one run on three hits (two of those infield hits), with five walks and five strikeouts. The 33 year old left hander reached up to 96 miles per hour on his fastball and threw 72 pitches (42 for strikes). Sale has only thrown 42.2 innings for Boston since 2019, as he missed the entire 2020 season due to Tommy John surgery before going 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA in nine starts last year.
The return of Sale will be good news for the Red Sox pitching staff who are also expecting to return of Nathan Eovaldi into the rotation from the IL, and Garrett Whitlock who will be headed back into the bullpen after nine starts this season so far.
