McAdam: In second rehab start, Chris Sale offers tantalizing glimpse of what's to come

PORTLAND, Maine — Chris Sale has at least one -- and more likely, two -- starts remaining in his long rehab journey back to the Red Sox. There are still hurdles to overcome and boxes to be checked, and of course, comebacks from Tommy John surgery don't come with any guarantees.

But if, in a couple of weeks, the Red Sox get the same version of Sale that was on display at Hadlock Field on Tuesday night for the Portland SeaDogs, they would be ecstatic.

In his second rehab outing, Sale threw 3.2 innings, allowed no hits and one walk with six strikeouts. Sale threw 49 pitches, 34 of which were strikes. His fastball consistently sat 96-97 mph and he occasionally touched 98 mph. Meanwhile, his trademark slider again showed itself, at times at least, to be a wipeout weapon, keeping hitters from Double-A Harrisburg mightily off-balance.

"It was,'' proclaimed Sale after his outing, "a good day, definitely a step in the right direction.''

Sale has been making steps since undergoing surgery on his invaluable left elbow at the end of March, 2020. He's had setbacks -- including a bout with COVD, a stiff neck and assorted other ailments -- along the way. But the elbow, critically, has held up. And the life on his fastball, along with the dart of his slider, seemed to illustrate that the reconstruction has been a success.

Sale has used his downtime -- and there's been a lot of it -- wisely. He's changed his eating habits, focused on improved nutrition, adjusted his workout routine and strengthened his body. He's still talk and slender, and when he's on the mound, unleashing his lankly 6-foot-5 frame toward the plate, he still resembled an uncoiled cobra.

But there are differences, too, however subtle they may be.

"My mindset is still the same,'' he emphasized. "Maybe a couple of different things (have changed) in my delivery to help consistency. And obviously, with the time off, I was able to kind of get all that right. I've had a lot of pitching coaches in Worcester and Florida noticing things -- front side stuff -- so I think I'm just doing some things to help out the consistency overall. But I'm still going to be the same guy.''

At the very least, Sale believes he's healthier, ridding his diet of any junk food, while cutting back on gluten and processed foods.

"Looking back,'' he said a bit ruefully, "I didn't really take good care of myself in that aspect of my life -- how I fueling my body, the stuff I was eating. I mean, you can ask my teammates. I'd show up on gameday with a bag of McDonald's or Taco Bell and that was like my pregame meal to go pitch.''

Now, with better nutrition, more regular sleep and improved hydration, he's far more fit and that much better prepared to tackle what's left of the 2021 season.

The Red Sox rotation has been stout through the first fourth months of the season, with the five top starters making every start. Only recently did they start to slot in Tanner Houck, who can provide a spot start here and there to offer rest to the other starters who've been going since February.

Next will come Sale.

It may sound like a baseball cliche, but injecting Sale into the mix the next few weeks will be a more significant addition than any other team in the game will make -- either internally or through a trade before the July 30 deadline. Plus, having not pitched at the major league level for nearly two years, Sale will be rested and ready.

But he balks at the idea that he's going to be the make-or-break element to the Red Sox' season.

"You know, I'm not coming in to save anything,'' he said. "I'm just doing what I do and helping the team, you know? They've done this for the bulk of the year up until now and they've held it down very well.''

Still, there's the promise of adding an elite starter to a team with the second-best record in the American League. For the Red Sox, it's an embarrassment of riches.

Exactly how soon they add Sale to the mix depends on he bounces back from his latest outing, and how the medical and training staff -- represented in person in Portland by head trainer Brad Pearson -- assesses his readiness.

Until then, Sale works and waits.

"I'm here today,'' he said. "I'll be here tomorrow, and whatever the next day brings, it does.''

On Tuesday night, that sounded very much like a promise for the Red Sox -- and an ominous threat to the rest of the American League.

— With contributions from Greg Bedard in Portland.