Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale exited Sunday's start against the New York Yankees in the first inning after a line drive by Aaron Hicks hit him in the hand.
Hirokazu Sawamura replaced the southpaw.
Sale has been hampered by injuries in recent years. The 33-year-old hasn't appeared in more than 30 games since the 2017 season and didn't pitch at all during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign after having Tommy John surgery.
Sale returned for the 2021 season in August and went 5-1, posting a 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 42.2 innings across nine starts.