White Sox ace Chris Sale (foot) to throw simulated game Friday
Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale will throw 75 pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday before throwing a simulated game on Friday, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.
Sale, who turns 26 on Monday, has not pitched since suffering an avulsion fracture in his right foot while unloading something from the back of his truck in February.
The White Sox still have no immediate plans to use Sale in a Cactus League game yet. The Sox wrap up their spring schedule on April 2 before opening the season against the American League champion Kansas City Royals on April 6.
“Even if he was completely healthy and you have him going back out, you’re still going to gear him up, just like you would if it was spring and make sure he’s strong enough to go out there and compete and do all of the things,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Once the adrenaline starts going, he’s going to forget about that and you want to protect him a bit.”
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The team already said Sale won’t pitch the opener and would be happy to have him back by April 12.
Sale had a 12-4 record with a 2.17 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 208 strikeouts in 26 starts last season. He was third in the AL Cy Young voting last season behind winner Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians and former winner Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners.
Sale has been an All-Star in each of the last three seasons since joining the starting rotation.
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- Phil Watson
