Chris Sale. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Chris Sale's 3-0 with a 2-86 ERA in three career Opening Day starts but, today, he'll make his first as a member of the Red Sox after watching Rick Porcello get the ball last year.
"I've done it a couple of times before, this'll obviously be my first one here, which is special," Sale said. "Boston is obviously a great city for sports, a great city for baseball. To be named Opening Day starter for this organization is not something I take lightly, and I'm actually really excited about."
The Sox are in Tampa for the first of a four-game set.
Sale made four spring starts with an ERA just above 3, but he was the Cy Young runner-up last year with 17 wins, a 2-90 ERA, and a major league leading 308 strikeouts over 214-plus frames.
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His new teammate and former rival J-D Martinez almost feels badly for the Rays today. Almost.
"I got one word for Chris Sale, and that's 'nasty'," Martinez said. "He's that guy where, you look at the lineup and you go, damn, you got Sale today? I gotta grind one out today, it's going to be tough."
He said it's tough to face him.
"It's not fun facing him, man. He's one of the best pitchers in the game for a reason," he said. "He's got lights-out stuff, explosive fast ball, explosive breaking ball, change-up ... he's got three-plus pitches, and he throws them all for strikes any time, so it's kind of one of those things where it's ... good luck!"
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports