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Roenicke: Red Sox ace Sale won’t pitch Opening Day

Field Level Media

February 27, 2020 at 3:42 pm.

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale is still regaining his health and will not pitch on Opening Day, interim manager Ron Roenicke said Thursday.

The left-hander has battled pneumonia and the flu this spring and will likely begin the season on the injured list. Roenicke said Sale was two weeks behind schedule due to his illness.

Sale, who turns 31 on March 30, missed the final six weeks of last season with elbow inflammation.

The seven-time All-Star posted a 6-11 record with a 4.40 ERA in 2019, the worst year statistically of his career since he entered the Chicago White Sox rotation in 2012. He posted career lows in starts (25), wins and innings (147 1/3) and the highest ERA.

Sale has a 109-73 career record (35-23 with Boston) with a 3.03 ERA. He has struck out 2,007 batters in 1,629 2/3 innings over 312 games (232 starts).

Roenicke did not name a starter for the season opener, but lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (19-6, 3.81 ERA in 2019) is likely to take the hill on March 26 in Toronto.

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