On June 7th, 2019, the Boston Red Sox announced that ace pitcher Chris Sale would be out until at least August due to a shoulder injury setback. This news was a major blow to the Red Sox, who have been relying on Sale to lead their pitching staff this season.
Sale had been dealing with shoulder inflammation since May 14th, and had been on the 10-day injured list since May 15th. He had been making progress in his recovery, and was set to return to the mound in early June. However, after a recent MRI revealed a setback in his recovery, the Red Sox decided to take a more conservative approach and keep him out until August.
The loss of Sale is a huge blow to the Red Sox, as he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past few years. In 2018, he posted a 2.11 ERA and 0.86 WHIP, and was a major factor in the Red Sox winning the World Series. His absence will be felt in the Red Sox rotation, as they will have to rely on other pitchers to fill the void.
The Red Sox have not yet announced who will replace Sale in the rotation, but they do have some options. Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez are two potential replacements, as both have had success in the past. Additionally, the Red Sox could look to the trade market for help, as they have been linked to several starting pitchers in recent weeks.
The loss of Chris Sale is a major blow to the Red Sox, but they do have some options to replace him in the rotation. It remains to be seen how they will adjust to his absence, but it is clear that his injury setback will have a major impact on their season.