Chris Sale Eyed as Red Sox’s Starter for 2024 Opening Day, Alex Cora Says

As reported by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe on Thursday, manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox has already begun to look ahead to 2024 after another poor season. He picked Chris Sale as his planned opening day starter for the upcoming campaign.

While Sale is undoubtedly the strongest option in Boston’s rotation despite a decline in form over the past few seasons, Cora’s move is unconventional.

With a 4.42 ERA and 1.12 WHIP this season, the 34-year-old is 6-4.

Even more worrisome, though, is Sale’s recent injury history, as he has had a very difficult time staying healthy ever since moving to Boston.

Just thirty games have been played by Sale in the last four seasons combined, including nine in 2021, two in 2022, and the full 2020 season missing due to Tommy John surgery. To add to his extensive list of injuries, Sale also had to contend with a left finger fracture and a stress fracture in his ribs.

When it came to that, Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer at the time, Chaim Bloom, stated the organization needed to track down the owner of a “voodoo doll,” which was believed to be Chris Sale.

The former AL strikeout leader was placed on the 60-day injured list even during the previous season due to a stress reaction in his scapula.

Furthermore, he wasn’t quite as efficient while he was on the mound.

Sale has a club option through 2025 and will be eligible to sign free agency in 2026, so it’s possible that this may be his last season in Boston. The upcoming opening day could be his final one as a Red Sox player if he doesn’t make an impression quickly.