Chicago White Sox ace Sale closes in on record
White Sox ace Chris Sale is going to get a shot at setting a major-league record at U.S. Cellular Field next week.
On Sunday or Monday, Sale will take the mound at home and attempt to become the first pitcher in history to strike out 10 or more batters in 9 straight starts during the same season.
Not surprisingly, Sale is not impressed with personal achievement.
"Those kinds of things don't really matter to me," he told reporters Tuesday night after striking out 12 over 8 innings in the Sox' 2-1 win at St. Louis in 11 innings. "There's a time and a place for that stuff, and it's not now, not here." Sale has always put the team first, and there has been little to get excited about with the White Sox this season.
But there is an instant buzz when it is Sale's day to pitch, and his next outing will attract international interest.
Sale is tied with Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez for the single-season record with 10 or more strikeouts in 8 straight starts. He is scheduled to pitch against the Orioles on Sunday at the Cell, but the Sox might give the 26-year-old lefty an extra day of rest.
If Sale is pushed back, he will start against the Blue Jays on Monday night.
"None of it has anything to do with him not feeling good or not feeling good physically, it's just giving him that extra day," manager Robin Ventura said. "When we've done it for him, it sounds crazy, but he's always bounced back and pitched maybe a little better. That probably sounds odd, but he has looked stronger and fresher when he gets an extra day."
Over the streak of 10 or more strikeouts, Sale has averaged 116 pitches per game.
"He hasn't brought up anything about soreness, this is just Coop (pitching coach Don Cooper) and I kicking it around to take care of him and make sure he's fresh and keep him going the same way," Ventura said. "We've spent enough time looking at (rookie starter) Carlos (Rodon), inserting him and moving him and everything else and you want to do that with Chris. He deserves it."
Over his record-tying run, Sale has pitched 60 innings and struck out 97. He's on pace for 305 strikeouts this season, which would be the most in the majors since 2002, when the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson struck out 334 and teammate Curt Schilling fanned 316.
Roster move:
The White Sox reinstated relief pitcher Dan Jennings from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and optioned Junior Guerra to Class AAA Charlotte.
Jennings went to the DL on June 7 (retroactive to June 5) with inflammation on the left side of his neck. In 22 appearances, the left-hander is 1-2 with a 7.83 ERA.
Guerra pitched in three games for the Sox and allowed 3 runs in 4 innings.