BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora would not say whether Chris Sale will be used as a starter or reliever in the ALCS vs. the Houston Astros.
“He’ll pitch. Yeah, he’ll pitch,” Cora said, smiling. “He’ll be part of this and he’ll be an important part of this.”
Game 1 is at Minute Maid Park on Friday at 8:07 p.m., eastern. Cora has yet to name his starting pitchers for Games 1 and 2.
Sale — who recorded just three outs in his Game 2 ALDS start against the Rays this past Friday — threw a bullpen session before Game 4 of the ALDS on Monday here at Fenway Park.
“I had a conversation with somebody today and it was music to my ears because they say something about how he (Sale) found it in the bullpen,” Cora said. “Well, the last time I heard somebody found it in the bullpen was David Price in ‘18. And he took off. So hopefully, he found something in the bullpen. But I think we recognize a few things that are going to make him get to the point where he’s more balanced and he’s more direct to the plate, he’s over the rubber. And if he does that, he’ll be fine.”
Sale, who returned in August from Tommy John surgery, lasted just 2 ⅓ innings in his final regular season start at Washington. He gave up two runs, four hits and three walks.
He allowed five runs on four hits, including a grand slam, in the one inning he pitched against the Rays in the ALDS.
“For how much we look into stuff, sometimes we don’t find it and other teams find it,” Cora said. “But I do believe he feels good where he’s at. And he’s going to pitch some meaningful innings this series and hopefully in the World Series. And all this talk is going to be in the past.”
Cora planned to use Sale in relief in Game 4 if the situation dictated it.
“We’re confident,” Cora said. “He was going to come in if we had the lead in the last game because of the pocket we had with the lefties. So we feel good about him. And he feels good about where he’s at.”
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