Chris Sale will be the Game 1 starter for the Boston Red Sox when they face the Houston Astros in the ALCS beginning on Saturday. The series will be a rematch of last year’s ALDS, which the eventual World Series winners won in four games.
Sale got bombed in Game 1 last year, allowing seven runs in five innings, taking the loss. He also took the loss pitching in relief in Game 4, though he actually fared well and was left in an inning too long.
On Wednesday, Sale talked about what he learned from last year’s playoffs, which marked his first time in the postseason. According to The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham, Sale says the biggest lesson he learned was “don’t suck.”
A brutally honest Chris Sale on pitching well in the postseason this year after struggling last fall: pic.twitter.com/GiwK7ft1Qt
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 10, 2018
That’s how to keep it simple. Sale looked good against the Yankees, allowing two runs and striking out eight over 5.1 innings in Game 1 of the ALDS. He also pitched a perfect 8th inning as the team closed out Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Boston needs Sale to be in ace form if they want to get revenge on Houston. If he’s not, their chances of taking the series will be greatly diminished.
