The Boston Red Sox are not ruling out Chris Sale from pitching Game 4 of the ALDS if the situation arises.
Sale was shelled by Houston in Game 1 of the series and allowed seven runs on nine hits in five-plus innings as his Sox lost 8-2 to the Astros. Drew Pomeranz started Game 2 and Doug Fister is set to pitch in Game 3.
The Red Sox have last year’s Cy Young award winner Rick Porcello available for Game 4, but if they’re facing elimination, they might want to go with their ace.
Sale was the best pitcher in the AL the first four months of the season, but he faded down the stretch over the final two months. His ERA in August was 4.38 and his September ERA was 3.72, compared to his 2.75 ERA before the break.
Given how on-and-off Sale has been over the past month, having extra rest would likely help him.
