<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - MLB's 'Field of Dreams' game is a win baseball needed this season"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Chris Sale's first start in two years for the Boston Red Sox may have marked a turning point in the American League pennant race.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Sale struck out eight in five innings to earn the win against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, his return to action after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2020.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Boston trimmed two games off their deficit in the AL East last week (3 GB entering Monday) and holds a 2½-game lead over the rival New York Yankees for the AL's second wild-card spot.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The Red Sox will be careful with Sale the rest of the way and he won't be going very deep into games, but the left-hander's very presence on a lineup card changes the way everyone in the AL views the last six weeks of the regular season.</p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:440px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/08/16/USAT/c1a86581-553f-4e6e-9c9a-86ef78b0a335-USATSI_16564839.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/08/16/USAT/c1a86581-553f-4e6e-9c9a-86ef78b0a335-USATSI_16564839.jpg?width=1320&height=880&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="Sale struck out eight in his return."/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Rank (movement from last week)</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>1. San Francisco Giants (–)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Evan Longoria back after missing two months with shoulder injury.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>2. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Lefty Alex Vesia's last 13 games: 0.60 ERA, 18 K in 15 innings.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>3. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">After .208 first half, Brandon Lowe hitting .286 with a .908 OPS since the break.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>4. Houston Astros (–)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Still waiting on Alex Bregman to return.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>5. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Eduardo Escobar hit .327 with seven extra-base hits in first 14 games with Milwaukee.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>6. Oakland Athletics (+1)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Starling Marte hit .397 (25-for-63) with 11 RBI in first 14 games for Oakland.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>7. Chicago White Sox (-2)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Eloy Jimenez, who didn't play until July 26, had 6 HR, 19 RBI in first 14 games.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>8. Boston Red Sox (+4)</strong></p><ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul"><li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Chris Sale shines with eight strikeouts in...</li></ul></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/08/16/mlb-power-rankings-chris-sale-red-sox-al-east-standings/8143218002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
