Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale is headed to the disabled list with a flexor strain. ESPN Chicago reports that there is nothing structurally wrong with the left elbow of Sale.
Sale, 25, is 3-0 this season with a 2.31 ERA and a 0,84 WHIP though four starts. A season ago he finished inside the top five in Cy Young voting and by his early start figures to compete for the award again this year.
There has been issues with inflammation and fatigue in Sale in each of the last two seasons but the left hander has thus far avoided anything serious.
Sale reportedly was dealing with soreness in his elbow prior to a start last week against the Boston Red Sox. Still he threw 127 pitches in seven innings of work while recording seven strike outs and allowing just one run.
“I think it was more just trying to focus,” Sale said. “I think it’s no secret that my emotions were running a little high. Just trying to dial it back a little bit and try to make my pitch. Getting that late in the game, that high pitch count, adrenaline kicks in and gets you through that. It wasn’t anything of getting tired or anything like that. It was just trying to compose myself and protect the pitches that I had.”
Andre Rienzo is expected to take Sale’s rotation spot for Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
