Advertisement

MLB: Chris Sale to rejoin the Red Sox after illness

Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox delivers the pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros in Game One of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Omar Rawlings / Getty Images)
Share

Left-handed ace Chris Sale will be with the Boston Red Sox for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros after an overnight stay in a hospital because of a stomach illness.

The Red Sox said they planned to wait until Sale rejoined the team in Houston on Tuesday before deciding when he will get back on the mound.

“Everything’s fine,” manager Alex Cora said before the Red Sox held a brief workout Monday night. “So we’ll see how he feels physically, and then after that we’ll decide what we’re going to do.”

Advertisement

The Red Sox will send right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to the mound and the Astros will counter with left-hander Dallas Keuchel in Game 3. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.

Sale was released Monday from Massachusetts General Hospital, where he went because of a stomach illness after he pitched Saturday in the series opener, a 7-2 victory by the Astros at Fenway Park.

He gave up one hit and two runs and struck out five batters, but walked four and hit one.

Cora said Sale started feeling ill and was throwing up right after the game. The pitcher was hospitalized Sunday night for observation.

“It’s great. I think we’re all more concerned for his personal well-being and not necessarily the team,” right fielder Mookie Betts said. “So to know that he’s OK is definitely huge.”

Betts hit two doubles and drove in a run to help the Red Sox win 7-5 on Sunday night and tie the series.

The big blow in the game was provided by Jackie Bradley Jr., who hit a three-run double in the third inning off the Green Monster to put Boston ahead to stay.

Advertisement

Now the series moves for three games to Minute Maid Park, where the defending World Series champion Astros will count on Keuchel to hold off Boston.

Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, was 12-11 with a 3.74 earned-run average in the regular season. He gave up two runs in five innings in the Game 3 AL Division Series clincher against the Cleveland Indians.

With right-hander Rick Porcello pitching in relief Sunday, the Red Sox will start Eovaldi, who was 6-7 with a 3.81 ERA in the regular season, split between Tampa Bay and Boston.

He gave up one run in five innings for the win against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of an ALDS, his first career postseason appearance.

Advertisement