OAKLAND - Chris Sale is creeping closer to a return, with Saturday's development adding even more optimism.
The Red Sox starter - who has been out with a stress fracture in his rib cage - took another step in a positive direction according to manager Alex Cora, who reported Sale threw a 15-pitch bullpen session earlier in the morning.
"There’s a good chance he will face live hitters in the middle of the week next week, so that’s a huge step for us," Cora said prior to Saturday's game.
While Cora couldn't give a timetable as to what would come next after facing live hitters, he did pass on that typically pitchers are integrated into minor-league games after a couple of such sessions.
"He’s feeling really good," Cora said of Sale. "Whenever I text him … If it was up to him, he’s starting tomorrow here in Oakland. We’re smarter than that, and he knows it too. So just keep building him up and whenever he’s ready, he’s ready, knowing he’s going to be part of this. Like I said last year, there’s only one team that can say they are going to add Chris Sale to the rotation and it’s us. Not to put too much pressure on him because he understands how it works, but he’s going to be a huge addition."
Joining Sale in Fort Myers has been Matt Barnes, who is on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Cora also added some insight into the reliever's situation.
"A little bit of fluid. Nothing out of the ordinary," said Cora of Barnes' examination. "I think, honestly, what really happened was he started doing other stuff to try and get the velocity back. Other kinds of exercises, whatever. Doing that and pitching doesn’t match. We’re pushing this guy to be the guy we want at the big league level doing different stuff and that was probably the setback. But knowing how he feels, hopefully it’s something that is 15 days or whatever it is and he can be back with us as soon as possible."