May 24
Sale pitched seven shutout innings Wednesday, striking out six while giving up two hits and two walks as the White Sox stifled the Twins.
Recommendation: Sale now sits at 5-2 in his first full season as a starter, during which his strikeout rate (10.59 K/9IP) over his first two years as a reliever has translated to a new, more strenuous role (8.23 K/9IP). If he can keep his walk rate (2.50 BB/9IP) and batting average against (.209) steady as the season goes on, he could be considered a top-flight fantasy starter by the end of 2012.
May 24
Sale earned his fifth win after going seven scoreless innings against the Twins on Wednesday.
Advice: It was his longest start since there were concerns about a sore elbow. He gave up two hits and struck out six to lower his ERA to 2.50.
May 24
LHP Chris Sale is not only responding well to a new elbow strengthening routine added to his days between starts, but he is showing on the mound that the concerns about the elbow pain he suffered through at the start of the month are in the past for now. Two weeks ago, Sale and Sox conditioning coordinator Allen Thomas switched things up by adding some new exercises for Sale's pitching arm, and following his dominant performance against the Twins on Wednesday, Sale continued to praise the changes. The other alteration? A new-found feel for his changeup, which allowed him to throw seven shutout innings against the Twins.
