Red Sox confirm Sale will start Game 1 of ALDS
It may not come as surprising news, but the Boston Red Sox have made a decision about who will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series next month.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that left-hander Chris Sale will start Game 1 no matter who the team's opponent is.
"He'll be scheduled to start, I don't think it'll surprise anybody, the first day of the postseason," Dombrowski said. "I don't mean to usurp anybody's announcements, but I think it's one of those that have been pretty clear."
Sale returned to the Red Sox on Sept. 11 after spending time on the disabled list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
Boston has eased him back into action since, with three consecutive starts of 3 1/3 innings or less.
Sale's most recent appearance featured 73 pitches and he's expected to stretch out to "90-ish" pitches in his last start of the season against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, according to Dombrowski.
Across 153 1/3 innings this season, Sale's been one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's 12-4 with a 2.00 ERA and 229 strikeouts in 26 starts.
The Red Sox will play the winner of the AL wild-card game in the division series, beginning Oct. 5.