Sale, Colon set for debuts with new clubs

When clocks strike 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, two of the top stories in baseball will occur at the exact same time in two of the game's biggest markets.

In New York, Citi Field will witness the return of lovable 43-year-old Atlanta Braves pitcher Bartolo Colon on the mound for the first time since he departed from the New York Mets in free agency.

Colon spent the past three seasons with the Mets where he continued to be an anomaly, throwing nearly 200 innings per season - despite his age - and giving baseball fans some of the game's best highlights.

Around 200 miles to the northeast, Fenway Park will get a look at southpaw Chris Sale as he makes his first start in a Boston Red Sox uniform.

The wiry, 28-year-old left-hander was one of the most talked about players during the offseason after he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox.

Sale has been one of MLB's top pitchers during his seven-year career, amassing 1,244 strikeouts in 1,110 innings to go along with a 3.00 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.

The acquisition of Sale immediately made the Red Sox a favorite to repeat in the American League East and gives them a more promising chance at winning another World Series.

"I think a team has a tendency to take on the mentality of a pitcher on a given day, and in this case, Chris' competitiveness can rub off on others," Red Sox skipper John Farrell explained to ESPN's Scott Lauber. "Anytime you can send Chris Sale to the mound, you're feeling pretty good about your chances."

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)