Welcome again to MLB Pocket book, delivered to you by The Batter’s Field Podcast! On this column, we’ll study information and notes from round Main League Baseball — oftentimes via a Toronto Blue Jays-tinted lens.

Chris Sale headed to 60-day IL

The Boston Crimson Sox introduced Friday that pitcher Chris Sale is headed to the 60-day Injured Checklist.

Sale left his June 1st begin in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds after simply 3.2 innings pitched. It’s one other irritating harm to the southpaw, who has been riddled with harm troubles since coming to the Crimson Sox from Chicago.

Sale’s newest harm comes within the midst of what appeared like a stable bounce again marketing campaign after he pitched simply 5.2 innings in 2022. Sale had allowed simply eight runs in his final 5 begins whereas putting out 26 over that span.

With Hendriks again, might the White Sox win the AL Central?

Liam Hendriks returning to the Chicago White Sox bullpen is nice information for each baseball fan, no matter who you root for. As a result of no matter who you root for, it’s even simpler to root for Liam Hendriks.

Hendriks, who has emerged as among the finest closing pitchers within the recreation, was recognized with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December of 2022. After a well-documented battle, Hendriks introduced he was most cancers free on April twenty first.

And fewer than two months later, Hendriks is again on the mound. Hendriks made his return on Could twenty ninth and allowed two runs whereas pitching in a low-leverage state of affairs. Hendriks didn’t shrink back from the challenges that adopted, nevertheless, as he jumped proper again into it and obtained proper again to work 4 days later, when he pitched a scoreless inning in opposition to the Tigers. Hendriks earned his first win of the season a day later in opposition to those self same Tigers, and two days later, he picked up his first save of the season in opposition to the Yankees.

Hendriks’ return comes at a welcome time, as after a troublesome begin to the season, the White Sox discover themselves simply 3.5 video games again of the Minnesota Twins for the highest spot within the AL Central. As of Friday, each crew within the AL Central has a dropping report, because the division is just not solely the worst in baseball, however one of many worst in professional sports activities as an entire.

The White Sox will battle with the Guardians and Twins — and possibly even the Detroit Tigers — down the stretch of the season for the honour of ending as the primary place crew within the worst division in baseball and locking down a playoff spot.

The White Sox are hoping that Tim Anderson finds one other degree of offence, and that Kendall Graveman continues to be a robust choice popping out of the bullpen. Luis Robert Jr. has been a distinction maker for them, and Jake Burger is taking part in one of the best baseball of his life. It’s not arduous to think about that the White Sox can preserve it rolling and handle to squeak into the postseason by capturing the AL Central title.

We talked about this and far more within the first episode of the Batter’s Field Podcast, accessible on each Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO