Chris Sale Says He Feels Great
Chris Sale (elbow) said he's feeling great while he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. The left-hander hasn't been cleared to throw off a mound yet, and it will be months before he pitches in a game. Sale had a mild case of COVID-19 a few weeks ago and dealt with a neck issue that slightly delayed his throwing, but he appears to be back on track in spring training. Boston will be conservative with him, but the good news is that there haven't been any setbacks with the 31-year-old arm. Sale is on track for a midseason return, but fantasy managers shouldn't have too high of expectations for the southpaw in the second half of the season, as pitchers often experience a lack of command upon their return from Tommy John surgery. The seven-time All-Star also missed the entire shortened season in 2020.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Chris Sale Frustrated With Poor Start
Chris Sale has lasted five or fewer innings and allowed three or more earned runs in each of his four starts this year, including 4 2/3 and 4 1/3 innings in his past two. Last year, he had only two starts of less than five innings. Sale has surrendered 15 hits and nine runs (eight earned) in nine innings in his last two starts. "I just hate sucking, and I'm just bad. Simple," Sale said. His average fastball velocity was 96.2 mph in his start on Sunday against the Rays -- up 3 mph from his previous season average. The reigning National League Cy Young has allowed at least three runs in each of his four starts in 2025 after giving up more than two earned runs in only three of 29 starts a year ago. The fact that Sale is healthy has made the poor start more frustrating, but it should also ease the minds of fantasy managers that he'll turn it around sooner than later.
Source: The Athletic - David O'Brien
Atlanta Braves left-hander Source: The Athletic - David O'Brien
Chris Sale Gets Opening Day Start For The Atlanta Braves
Chris Sale has been assigned the Opening Day start for the Braves to kick off the 2025 season. Sale, the 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner, looks to continue his dominance in 2025 for the Braves and will start the season on the road versus the San Diego Padres on Thursday, March 27. The Padres have a solid lineup, including superstars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Regardless, Sale is one of the most dominant starters in the game, and fantasy managers should start him confidently next Thursday. During the 2024 season, Sale went 18-3 with an 11.4 K/9, 2.38 ERA, a 6.4 WAR, and a 2.09 FIP. Look for him to continue to rack up the wins and strikeouts behind one of the most potent lineups in baseball.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves left-hander Source: Atlanta Braves
Chris Sale To Start Grapefruit League Opener On Saturday
Chris Sale will start this year's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. Barring an unexpected development, Sale, last year's National League Cy Young winner, will also start the regular-season opener on March 27 at the San Diego Padres. Sale was amazing in his first year in Atlanta in 2024, winning the pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (18), ERA (majors-best 2.38) and strikeouts (225 in 177 2/3 innings). His 29 starts were his most since 2017 and he was able to stay healthy until the last week of the season, when back spasms caused him to miss his final start and a wild-card loss to the Padres in the playoffs. The good news is his spasms subsided and he had a normal offseason. Sale is a top-five fantasy starter in 2025, albeit with plenty of injury risk.
Source: The Athletic - David O'Brien
The Athletic's David O'Brien reports that Atlanta Braves left-hander Source: The Athletic - David O'Brien
Chris Sale To Have Normal Offseason
Chris Sale (back), who was named the 2024 National League Cy Young winner on Wednesday, won't have his offseason hampered at all by the back spasms that he dealt with at the tail end of the season. Sale was unable to take his final turn of the regular season against the division-rival New York Mets in the regular season and then also wasn't available for the Braves in the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres. However, had Atlanta advanced to the NL Division Series, he would have started Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's great news for the 35-year-old southpaw as he looks for an encore in 2025 with the Braves. He posted a 2.38 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 225 K's and only 39 walks in 177 2/3 innings in his first year in Atlanta. Sale obviously has ace upside, but there's also high bust potential because of his lengthy injury history.
Source: Braves Today - Lindsay Crosby
Atlanta Braves left-hander Source: Braves Today - Lindsay Crosby
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