Chris Sale will take against the Red Sox for the first time since 2016. And it will be his first time doing so since Boston traded him to the Braves in December for second baseman Vaughn Grissom, ending his seven-year stay with the franchise.
The Red Sox needed to replicate what the Orioles did last year, when Baltimore scored 19 earned runs and 25 hits off Sale in 17 innings, manager Alex Cora quipped, in order to defeat Sale.
“Hopefully, we can emulate the Orioles from last season,” Cora said. “Maybe we should go “O’s!” today. It’s both easy and hard with him. As righties, you have to give in to one side of the argument. He does a fantastic job of landing that slider early in the count and burying it. You must choose your poison. Either you avert your gaze. If you peek inside, discipline is required.
Cora has never managed against Sale in a game in which he has pitched. Sale played for the squad in 2018 and 2019 as well as in 2021–2023 throughout the first five years of Cora’s managerial stint.
Cora declared, “We know what’s coming.” It’s slider, fastball. All you need to do is foul off a couple pitches to increase the pitch count. We’ve already completed it. We are up against Nate (Eovaldi). Many of the guys aren’t present. Isn’t that a component of it? Thus, we’ll be prepared.
After losing 4-2 on Tuesday, the Red Sox will use a different lineup against Sale in the second game of a two-game series. Rob Refsnyder is sidelined due to hamstring soreness, leaving catcher Connor Wong to bat second behind leadoff batter Jarren Duran. Romy González, a utility man, is batting seventh and playing first base after returning from the disabled list, while Wilyer Abreu is batting ninth. This season, Rafael Devers is only batting cleanup twice. Cora want to pursue this further in the future.
Cora observed that “he’s swinging the bat well.” “Hopefully, we can push Abreu down so he doesn’t have to face Chris more than once. You’re going to witness the lefties being divided up. For the time being, we’re going to divide Raffy and Jarren in terms of playing the game and such. Raffy will most likely always hit fourth against righties, while Abreu will likely bat second the entire time. That seems to be my inclination.
In his professional career, this will be Devers’ first encounter with Sale.
“We are aware of his skill as a pitcher. Devers declared on Tuesday, via interpreter Carlos Villoria Benítez, “He’s a superstar.” We are aware of his intense competition, but we too have intense competition. Although we are aware that it would be difficult, we are prepared to take on him tomorrow.
Right-hander Nick Pivetta, who was reinstated off the disabled list prior to the game, will start for the Red Sox for the first time since April 2. This season, he has only made two starts and his ERA is 0.82.
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