Sale to miss start of season with stress fracture in ribs

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale will miss the start of the 2022 campaign due to a stress fracture in his right rib cage, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom announced Wednesday, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

"We're talking weeks, not days, until we can get a ball back in his hand," Bloom said.

Sale's injury occurred four weeks ago, the pitcher said, and it was aggravated after a live batting practice session.

"Now we're just playing the waiting game, waiting for the bone to heal," Sale said.

Sale also said he's not vaccinated, meaning he can't cross the border to play against AL East rivals the Toronto Blue Jays once he's healthy enough to pitch again.

"We'll see what happens," Sale said, per Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald.

Sale missed all of 2020 due to Tommy John surgery and was limited in 2021. The 32-year-old registered a 3.16 ERA and 3.69 FIP across 42 2/3 innings down the stretch last season as the Red Sox battled for playoff position, ultimately qualifying in game 162.

Boston acquired Sale from the Chicago White Sox in a blockbuster deal in 2016 and inked the seven-time All-Star to a five-year, $145-million extension in 2019.