Ian Browne (mlb.com) reports that a source says Chris Sale has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not make his scheduled start this Sunday in Chicago against the White Sox. The report has not been confirmed by the Red Sox.
If true, it would be the second time Sale has contracted COVID-19 this year, having said he tested positive for the virus in January. Sale, who has a 2.52 ERA in five starts this season, would be the 12th Red Sox player to go on the COVID-19 injured list in the past 14 days, and the 10th to test positive.
It is unknown how many of the 10 positive players have refused to get vaccinated, but it has been reported the Red Sox are one of only six major league teams to have not reached a vaccination rate of 85%.
There has been no information about who will take Sale's spot. Minor leaguer Connor Seabold, a 25-year-old right-hander, will apparently make his major league debut on Saturday, starting in place of Nick Pivetta, who is also on the COVID-19 list.
While Enrique Hernández, the first player of this current spate to test positive, on August 27, returned to the team earlier this week, the Red Sox are still without Xander Bogaerts, Jarren Duran, Christian Arroyo, and Yairo Muñoz, as well as pitchers Matt Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Martín Pérez.
Boston holds the first spot in the Wild Card standings, with the Yankees, losers of six straight games, in the second spot, only 1 GB. The Blue Jays, who finished a sweep of the MFY and have won eight in a row, are 1.5 GB and the Athletics and Mariners are both 2.5 GB.
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