Moving rehab to Triple-A Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday that Sale (elbow) will make his fourth minor-league rehab start July 31 at Triple-A Worcester, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican... Impact Sale will move up to the Red Sox's top affiliate after he completed a second straight start (and the third overall of his rehab assignment) at Double-A Portland on Sunday. He built up to 64 pitches (46 strikes) in the outing, covering 3.2 innings and punching out nine while giving up two runs on six hits and no walks. According to Smith, Sale's fastball topped out at 96 miles per hour during the start, and while he wasn't able to reach four or five innings in the start like the Red Sox had hoped, the fact that the lefty increased his pitch count while generating plenty of swinging strikes is a promising sign of his health. If Sale's velocity and command are on point in his start at Worcester, and if he's able to reach around 80 pitches, he could be cleared to make his 2021 debut for the Red Sox during the first week of August.
JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
