LEADING OFF: Red Sox ace Sale returns following TJ surgery

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:

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SALE OF THE SEASON

Boston left-hander Chris Sale is scheduled to make his first big league appearance in just over two years when he faces the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.

The seven-time All-Star underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2020 and missed last year’s pandemic-shortened season.

In five combined rehab outings this year between the Red Sox rookie-level affiliate, Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, Sale pitched 20 innings, striking out 35 and allowing three runs.

The 32-year-old ace will pitch in a major league game for the first time since he started Aug. 13, 2019.

After helping the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series when he struck out then-Dodgers star Manny Machado for the final out, Sale went only 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts the following year, his fewest wins and highest ERA in a full season.

The struggling Red Sox hope Sale’s elbow is strong and that he can provide a spark for the final weeks of the regular season. He’s complied a 109-73 record with a 3.03 ERA and 2,007 strikeouts over 10 years in the majors.

BACK IN ACTION

The Yankees and White Sox move from Iowa to Chicago for the resumption of their three-game series. The teams were off Friday after Tim Anderson’s game-ending homer lifted the White Sox to a wild 9-8 victory Thursday night in baseball’s Field of Dreams game next to the filming site of the beloved 1989 movie.

New York sends right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-4, 3.82 ERA) to the mound looking to improve its playoff positioning. Chicago counters with right-hander Dylan Cease (9-6, 3.99), who is going for his third consecutive win.

MISSING MET

Recently acquired infielder Javier Báez has been put on the 10-day injured...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Red-Sox-ace-Sale-returns-following-16386342.php