Boston Red Sox' Ace Chris Sale Hits IL, Provides Injury Update

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale has been placed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sale said he doesn't have a timeline for return yet and is waiting to learn the results of more testing.

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale left his start on Thursday after just 3.2 innings with shoulder soreness.

Now, Sale has been placed on the injured list with "left shoulder inflammation."

Sale addressed the media on Friday afternoon, saying that he isn't sure of an exact timeline for recovery yet. He said he's waiting for the results of other tests to come in and hoped to know more by next week.

While it was deemed unusual to have a player speak on his injury the day after, Sale that he wanted to address the media since he did not on Friday after the game. He said he wanted to be accountable and available.

Alex Speier of the Boston Globe put this out on Twitter with his takeaways:

Takeaways: Sale said still too early to say exactly what this is or how long he’ll be out. He doesn’t want to pretend to know a timetable when there isn’t one yet. He doesn’t think surgery is in play. He’s devastated - his eyes reddened discussing this - but determined to return.

Takeaways: Sale said still too early to say exactly what this is or how long he’ll be out. He doesn’t want to pretend to know a timetable when there isn’t one yet. He doesn’t think surgery is in play. He’s devastated - his eyes reddened discussing this - but determined to return.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) June 2, 2023

It's certainly a blow for the Red Sox, who enter play on Friday in last place in the American League East, and it's a blow for Sale, who has dealt with injures each of the last six years.

For the season, he's 5-2 with a 4.58 ERA. He's struck out 71 batters in 59 innings and had really gotten in a groove recently.

For his career, he's a seven-time All-Star selection who helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series.

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