The Red Sox placed Chris Sale on the 10-day IL with left elbow inflammation Saturday, and team president Dave Dombrowski says he's not sure if he will return this season.
Asked if Sale would pitch again this year, Dombrowski said Saturday, "I don't know one way or another at this point.
"We're in a situation where I don't know where it's really going to take us at this point.''
According to the Boston Globe, Sale is scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Florida Monday to have his left elbow examined.
Sale, 30, has put up some very good numbers this year striking out 218 batters in 147 1/3 innings of work with a 1.09 WHIP and a 13.3 K/9 average, but he has seen a noticeable dip in velocity this year in comparison to his last two.
After averaging nearly 95 mph on his fastball each of the last two seasons, Sale's fastball has averaged 93.2 mph this season.
That has led to a decrease in use of his heater as he is now throwing his slider a career-high 38.4 percent of the time while using his fastball a career-low 46.4 percent.
With the addition of home runs flying out of ballparks at an astronomical rate this season, Sale has a career-worst 4.40 ERA and one of his worst-ever FIPs at 3.40.
His 24 home runs allowed is three short of the career-high 27 he allowed in 2016 and he did that in 226 2/3 innings pitched.
Much of this could have to do with the injuries he has been dealing with since last season. He was placed on the 10-day IL with a shoulder issue at the end of last year and was limited to 158 innings which was the least he has worked since his second year in MLB as a 22-year-old in 2011.
Ryan Brasier was recalled to fill Sale's spot on the 25-man roster.