Sunday could’ve been one of the most memorable pitching matchups of the season. With a new fan favorite starting for a first-place White Sox club cruising toward their first division title since 2008, the opponent was going to be the franchise’s former ace whose trade started the team on its current trajectory.
But like so much else over the past 18 months, COVID-19 got in the way.
Making his return from the injured list, the White Sox’ Lance Lynn was expected to face Boston’s Chris Sale. Unfortunately, the Red Sox announced Friday that Sale has tested positive for COVID-19, and won’t be making that start.
Sale is the latest Red Sox player to test positive after an outbreak that’s made its way through the clubhouse of a Boston team fighting for one of the American League’s wild-card spots.
“At this point, nothing shocks me, to be honest with you,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “On a daily basis, we go through a process and we just hope for good news and this is where we’re at. It’s unfortunate but he’ll be back. He feels good. He actually feels great, and hopefully he can come back right away, right after his “X” amount of days are done.”
Cora didn’t divulge whether Sale – who had COVID-19 during the offseason – is vaccinated. The Boston manager said he found out Thursday that Sale tested positive. Somewhat luckily for Boston, Sale did not travel with his teammates to Chicago.
After missing last season and most of this year following Tommy John surgery, Sale is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in five starts. Even better for the Red Sox, Sale has looked like the pitcher who has been one of the toughest pitchers to hit in baseball, striking out 30 batters in 25 innings.
Though he’s been gone for a while, Sale’s impact is still being felt by his former team.
The Dec. 6, 2016 trade that sent Sale to Boston kickstarted the Sox’ rebuild, bringing back Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. That came after Sale made five American League All-Star teams in Chicago, going 74-50 with 1,244 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA.
Lance is back
Lynn, meanwhile, will come back to the Sox’ rotation in the series finale after being reinstated from the IL on Friday. Placed on the IL on Aug 31 (retroactive to Aug. 29) with right knee inflammation, Lynn is 10-4 with a 2.59 ERA and is stating a case for a possible Cy Young Award in his first Sox season.
To make room for Lynn, the Sox optioned pitcher Jimmy Lambert to Triple-A Charlotte. Lambert, 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA, earned his first big-league victory Tuesday night when he allowed one run in five innings to beat the Athletics.
Oh yeah, him
Former Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber batted second and served as the designated hitter for the Red Sox, who acquired him July 29 from the Nationals. Greeted with boos when he took his first at-bat in the first inning, Schwarber wasn’t making his first return to Chicago since leaving the North Side, as he visited Wrigley Field with Washington in May.
