The White Sox sent Chris Sale home before Saturday's game against the Tigers for what general manager Rick Hahn called a "clubhouse incident."
"Chris Sale has been scratched from tonight's schedule start and sent home from the ballpark," Hahn said in a statement. "The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under further investigation by the club."
Speculation surrounding Sale's absence began circulating on social media late in the afternoon, about 90 minutes before he was scheduled to throw the first pitch against the Tigers at 6:05 p.m. Central Time.
Was Sale being traded? Not as of Saturday evening.
Losers of eight of their last nine, the Sox were looking forward to Sale possibly helping to stop the bleeding.
"Any time he goes out there you have a good chance to win, especially the way it's been going," Sox manager Robin Ventura said before Saturday's game.
Sale, who allowed just one hit in eight innings in his last start, is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA. He was going to try to become the first 15-game winner in baseball, but instead missed a start for the first time this season.
The White Sox haven't announced who will replace Sale should the Sox and Tigers play Saturday night.
The tarp was on the field 20 minutes before the scheduled start time.
