Sale to get 2nd opinion on injured elbow from Dr. James Andrews

The Boston Red Sox's postseason hopes took a major hit on Saturday when the team announced left-hander Chris Sale was placed on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 14.

After striking out 12 against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, Sale felt stiffness in his elbow the following day. An MRI conducted on Saturday showed inflammation.

"Chris didn't feel anything when he pitched Tuesday. He felt stiffness on Wednesday," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne.

Dombrowski added Sale will be evaluated further and the Red Sox will seek additional opinions outside its own medical staff, including one from noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews, according to Bill Koch of the Providence Journal.

When asked if Sale would pitch again this season, Dombrowski was uncertain. "I don't know where it's going to take us at this point," he said, according to The Athletic's Steve Buckley.

Sale was apparently upset after receiving the injury news. He told the Red Sox he needed a day and refused to speak with media on Saturday, according to NESN's Guerin Austin.

Although he's pitched well in his past two starts, striking out 25 in 14 2/3 innings, the 30-year-old has had a down year. He owns the highest ERA (4.40) of his career alongside a 6-11 record.

Boston inked Sale to a five-year, $145-million contract extension in March that runs through the 2024 season.