It was already known that Boston Red Sox lefty Chris Sale would miss the start of the 2022 MLB season because of a broken rib, but the latest news on the Sale front is even more dire. The Red Sox just put Sale on the 60-day IL with the injury, meaning he'll miss at least the first two months of the campaign.

This is a massive setback for Boston before this 2022 season even begins. The Red Sox are no stranger to being without Sale, as he missed the shortened 2020 season because of Tommy John surgery and then missed a good amount of 2021 because of his recovery.

Sale looked pretty good in his return in 2021, making nine starts and posting a 3.16 ERA in 42 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 52 batters in those innings.

The Red Sox were hoping Sale's injury woes would be behind him, but now he's going to miss all this time to start 2022. Once a perennial All-Star and Cy Young candidate, the lefty's career has been derailed by injuries. He last made the All-Star Game in 2018, the last of seven consecutive appearances.

While losing Sale will hurt, Boston still plans on trying to compete with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the loaded AL East. Nathan Eovaldi will get the Opening Day start at Yankee Stadium.