Chris Sale will get an MRI after leaving the Boston Red Sox's 8-2 win against the Cincinnati Reds early on Thursday because of left shoulder soreness.
Sale departed after Alex Cora and a member of the training staff visited the mound twice in the fourth inning.
He struck out six batters in 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and a walk on 59 pitches.
"Hoping for the best. Obviously, it didn't look great. Let's wait and see," said Cora, adding that it was a drop in velocity that prompted Boston to keep Sale on a shorter leash.