JUPITER, Fla. -- Chris Sale hadn't been great in his first spring start for the Red Sox, but he'd been plenty good enough against the Marlins: Four innings for Sale, two hits, five strikeouts, one run.
He pitched this way a lot for the Red Sox last season before fading down the stretch, so often looking like as much of an ace as anybody in the game. He will need to do it again this season if the Red Sox are going to win now. And the 2018 Red Sox are as much of a win-now team as anybody.