Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed that ace Chris Sale is set to undergo an MRI for a shoulder injury suffered on Thursday.
The Boston Red Sox were already having a bad time entering Thursday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. They were in the midst of a three-game losing streak, hoping to get out of it.
The good news was that Chris Sale was on the mound for the start, and he has been strong in recent appearances. Then things got worse, as Sale left in the top of the fourth inning with what was described as left shoulder soreness.
After Boston's 8-2 win over Cincinnati, manager Alex Cora revealed that Sale is undergoing an MRI on Friday. While Cora said that he's hoping for the best, he said: "Obviously it doesn't look great."
Cora's comments come courtesy of FOX Sports.
"The [velocity] was down, I'll say in the second inning. It went from 95 to 90…I cannot be irresponsible, we've been through this lane for a while and we know each other. And obviously, it's not easy because of what he's gone through, but at the end, I've got to take care of him…" said Cora.
Chris Sale set to undergo MRI on Friday for a left shoulder injury
In the fourth, Sale had an 80.2 mph slider thrown on a 2-1 count to Nick Senzel of the Reds. That was when Cora and the team's training staff walked to the mound to check on Sale. He remained in the game, throwing a 95.5 mph fastball and an 82.2 mph slider, before getting visited once again by Cora and the medical staff. It was at that moment that Sale was removed from the game.
Sale threw 3.2 innings on Thursday night, striking out six batters, walking one Reds player, and allowing one earned run on five hits.
Red Sox fans are certainly hoping for the best, as Sale has been pitching great in recent starts. In May, Sale recorded a 2.42 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP, a 3-0 win-loss record, 30 strikeouts, and four walks in 26.0 innings.
The team and fanbase should have a better idea of what kind of injury Sale is dealing with. They will be waiting with bated breath and hoping that he won't be sidelined for too long.
