Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale got some good news about his ailing elbow when he visited with Dr. James Andrews on Monday, but it sounds like the left-hander is unlikely to pitch again in 2019.
The Red Sox released a statement updating Sale’s health, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski revealed that the former Cy Young Award winner received a plasma injection in his elbow. He will be reevaluated in six weeks.
The Red Sox released the following medical update on Chris Sale: pic.twitter.com/zqU8TZVF6m
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 19, 2019
The best news is that it does not sound like Sale will need Tommy John surgery, which is always a concern when a pitcher has inflammation of the elbow. However, the regular season ends in six weeks, and the Red Sox would have to overcome long odds to reach the playoffs. Sale has likely thrown his last pitch this season.
Sale dealt with some fatigue in his throwing shoulder down the stretch last season, and that led to concerns about his velocity during the postseason. He was able to do enough to help Boston win the World Series, and they were confident enough in his health that they signed him to a massive extension over the winter.
