MLB Hitters Don’t Want To Face ‘Nasty’ Former Red Sox Ace

A former Boston Red Sox star continues to frighten MLB opponents.

The Athletic released results from an anonymous player survey. As part of the poll, the outlet asked 50 anonymous hitters to choose the pitcher they would least want to oppose in Game 7 of the World Series.

Chris Sale led all pitchers with eight votes. The Atlanta Braves ace finished ahead of fellow reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal (five) while Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman tied Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes and Jhoan Duran with three votes.

A common thread surfaced among respondents who chose Sale. Of the four answers The Athletic published, three called him “nasty.”

“You want the challenge,” one unnamed player said, “but he’s just nasty.”

Another doesn’t have high hopes about any future encounters with the 36-year-old.

“I got one hit off him already, so I know I’m probably never going to get another one ever again,” the player said.

From 2017 to 2023, Sale posted a 3.27 ERA and 12.7 K/9 with the Red Sox. He stockpiled a career-high 308 strikeouts during his first season, but injuries derailed much of his Red Sox tenure.

Perhaps The Athletic asked members of the 2018 Los Angeles Dodgers. It wasn’t Game 7, but Sale secured a Red Sox championship by striking out the side in relief to end Game 5.

Boston sent Sale to Atlanta after he made 20 starts in 2023. The southpaw rediscovered his elite form, winning his first career Cy Young with an MLB-leading 18 wins, 2.35 ERA, and 225 strikeouts. Sale sports a 2.79 ERA and 107 strikeouts this season.

“He was untouchable last year,” another player told The Athletic. “When you win all three categories in the Triple Crown, it’s hard to name anyone else.”

Meanwhile, four pitchers named former Red Sox superstar Mookie Betts as the hitter they’d least want to face in the World Series. Six players identified Red Sox skipper Alex Cora as the manager they’d most like to play for, and 15 players highlighted the Red Sox as an organization with a good reputation.