The 2022 MLB season has not been kind to the Boston Red Sox. They are last in the AL East after making the ALCS last season and have only gotten good production from a handful of players, which does not include Trevor Story. The flashy offseason addition has been brutal so far this season.

Chris Sale has not been around to help the Red Sox. The seven-time All-Star has a stress fracture in his ribs. Boston placed him on the 60-day IL at the beginning of the season and it does not seem like they are going to activate him any time soon.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that Sale has suffered a personal medical issue that has delayed his recovery. Rob Bradford of WEEI reports that it is a non-COVID-19 issue, which is notable for the unvaccinated Sale.

Sale would certainly help the Red Sox but he is not enough to get them going in the right direction. Their pitching has been mostly fine. It's their hitting (outside of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and J.D. Martinez) that has failed them so far. Every other hitter with double-digit plate appearances has an OPS below .600 at the moment.

The Red Sox record falling below the Baltimore Orioles a month into the season is a terrible sign for Boston. They were expected to be a World Series contender but are much closer to having the top overall draft pick.