FORT MYERS, Fla. — This was not the sight the Boston Red Sox envisioned in Chris Sale’s final spring training tuneup: Their ace crumpled on the ground, knocked off the mound by a line drive. So this was best-case scenario.”Manager Alex Cora said he expects Sale to pitch the opener. The Red Sox had been bringing Sale along slowly this spring — not because of an injury but because they are hoping to keep him stronger as the season goes on. Sale led the majors with 308 strikeouts last season, going 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA in his first year with Boston. “Try to build up arm strength to get to where we need to be for Thursday.”The Red Sox already were looking at starting the season with a depleted rotation.

Source: National Post March 24, 2018 19:13 UTC