Red Sox: Alex Cora gives full plan, timetable for Chris Sale return

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale is still rehabbing his shoulder injury but appears on track to return in the near future.

Boston Red Sox star pitcher Chris Sale has been slowly working his way back to full health, much to the relief of the organization and his fans.

Sale landed on the injured list in early June due to a stress reaction in his left shoulder blade. His troubling injury history made him a liability from the start, and seeing Sale return to the shelf was demoralizing to Red Sox fans but not an altogether new feeling.

In the latest news on Sale’s health, manager Alex Cora said he was pleased with Sale’s progress so far and told the media the lefty was feeling “good” after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday.

As for a more specific timetable for Sale’s return, Cora laid out what the next few weeks might look like for the pitcher barring any setbacks.

Red Sox: Chris Sale injury update bodes good news

The 34-year-old has a bullpen session scheduled for this weekend and will likely progress to throwing two live batting practices. After that, Sale will go on a rehab assignment.

In his sixth season in Boston, Sale has a 4.58 ERA in 11 starts. However, in the six games before he got injured, the lefty recorded a much better 2.25 ERA and struck out 41 batters in 36 innings.

Several years removed from his last All-Star campaign, Sale would still provide decent production in a pitching rotation that’s fallen on difficult times. This season, Red Sox pitchers are ranked 22nd in the MLB in batting average allowed (.252) and 17th in ERA (4.35).

Fingers crossed that the likes of Brayan Bello and James Paxton will stay healthy. Behind them, assuming Chris Sale and fellow starter Garrett Whitlock return to full health by the season’s end, Boston may be on the prowl for a back-end starter at the trade deadline to keep the team competitive in the AL East.

Or, at the very least, just ahead of the Yankees.