Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was reportedly scratched from his start Saturday night due to issues he is having with the team’s front office.
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The incident, according to TodaysKnuckleball.com, involved Sale literally slicing up the team’s special uniforms so players couldn’t wear them.
ESPN Stats & Info said Matt Albers would start in the southpaw’s place.
The White Sox did release a statement shortly after he was scratched which said he was sent home following a “non-physical clubhouse incident”.
Sale, who allowed just one hit in eight innings in his last start, is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA. He ranks among American League leaders in several statistical categories, including innings (first at 133), WHIP (tied for first at 1.01), strikeouts (fifth at 129) and ERA (tied for eighth at 3.18).
“Any time he goes out there you have a good chance to win, especially the way it has been going,” Ventura said. He was the 13th overall pick out of Florida Gulf Coast in 2010 and has been selected as an All-Star five times. It is unfortunate for Sale’s owners that he was scratched Saturday, but if he were to be dealt to a more competitive team prior to the trade deadline, that could end up boosting his fantasy value down the stretch.
Multiple reports Saturday, though, confirmed that the White Sox were still in talks to trade Sale before the August 1 deadline.
The White Sox clubhouse was open to reporters for only 20 minutes before it was closed for a team meeting before the game. The game will be resumed Sunday afternoon before the teams’ series finale.
Albers said he found out from pitching coach Don Cooper at around 4:30 p.m. that he would be starting for the first time since he did so eight years ago at Wrigley Field when he was with the Orioles. “But unfortunate he didn’t start tonight and proud of the guys that came in and filled in”.
“You’ve just got to be professional and play baseball”. The rookie right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day and allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in three-plus innings. General manager Al Avila thinks his team can reach the playoffs.
With injured players such as starting pitchers Daniel Norris and Jordan Zimmermann and outfielder J.D. Martinez nearing returns from the disabled list, the Tigers are expected to be quiet before the August 1 trade deadline.
“I don’t foresee us adding another starting pitcher or reliever at this point”, Avila said.
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“There are twice as many players in the Hall of Fame who debuted before 1950 as compared to afterward, and yet there are almost double the eligible candidates after 1950 than prior”, Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement. 2B Brett Lawrie (hamstring) missed his second straight game, but isn’t expected to go on the disabled list.
