Red Sox place Sale back on DL after brief return

The best team in baseball got some bad news Saturday.

The Boston Red Sox placed left-hander Chris Sale on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 15, with mild left shoulder inflammation.

Sale had just returned from a DL stint on Aug. 12, making one start. He was scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox haven't announced his replacement.

The southpaw said he isn't concerned about his shoulder but is irritated by the timing, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne, who reports the Red Sox are in the process of mapping out a rehab program. He said his shoulder feels less inflamed than last time and he'd probably be pitching if his team was in a closer race, according to Chris Mason of The Eagle-Tribune.

"I'm not going to sit around and pout," Sale told Mason. "I've got to keep my chin up. I'm on the best team that's ever walked this planet."

During his one start, Sale pitched like his normally dominant self, striking out 12 hitters and allowing one hit across five innings against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox ace owns a 12-4 record with a 1.97 ERA and is tied for the American League lead in strikeouts with 219.

In a corresponding move, the Red Sox recalled right-hander Brandon Workman from Triple-A Pawtucket.