Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib cage) completed a 15-pitch bullpen session on Thursday, according to Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne. Sale has been out all year due to a stress fracture in his right rib cage. He resumed playing catch earlier this past week and the bullpen session on Thursday is another step forward in his recovery. The 33-year-old lefty remains without a timetable for a return, but he is someone who needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues due to his high upside. He made nine starts in 2021 and went 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib cage) has resumed playing catch, according to manager Alex Cora. Sale recently took a break from throwing due to a non-baseball medical issue, but he's back on track in his recovery from a stress fracture in his right rib cage that has kept him out all season so far. It remains to be seen when the veteran left-hander can get back on a mound, but fantasy managers won't be able to throw him into their starting lineups until at least mid-July. The 33-year-old southpaw has made a total of just nine starts in the last two seasons, including missing all of the 2020 campaign after having Tommy John surgery.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale's (rib cage) return from a stress fracture in his right rib cage will be delayed a few weeks due to what chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom termed "a personal medical issue." The initial plan was to have Sale back right around when he was eligible to return from the 60-day injured list on June 4. Now the best-case scenario is for the left-hander to make his season debut around the third week of June. The seven-time All-Star has had bad injury luck the last few seasons, with the biggest one being Tommy John surgery in March of 2020. The good news is that Boston's starting rotation has stepped up so far this year in Sale's absence, but both the Red Sox and fantasy managers would love to have him back as soon as possible.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) threw a seven-pitch bullpen session off a mound earlier this week. Throwing off a mound was a significant step for Sale, although the Red Sox are obviously playing it conservative with his throwing progression. The 33-year-old left-hander has been playing catch since the middle of April, but his bullpen session this week was his first time off a mound since he suffered a stress fracture on the right side of his rib cage. Sale isn't eligible to make his season debut until at least early June, though, so fantasy managers must remain patient and keep him stashed until then. Given Sale's extensive injury history, the Red Sox are going to slow play this one.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (ribs) was able to play catch on Friday. The All-Star pitcher revealed this is the fifth time he has been able to play catch since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib cage. The left-hander is pain-free, but it's uncertain when he'll throw off the mound. It sounds like Sale is making progress, but it's a long road back. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Sale to take the mound until around June.

The Boston Red Sox have placed starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib) on the 60-day injured list. The southpaw was diagnosed with a right rib stress fracture a few weeks back. Details about his timeline had been unclear, but now we know that he'll miss at least the first two months of the 2022 season. The injury gods have certainly not been kind to the 33-year-old, who has appeared in only nine games since the end of the 2019 season. He shouldn't be considered as an option in fantasy drafts until the late double-digit rounds.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale's (ribs) MRI exam showed "some healing," according to manager Alex Cora. However, there is still no timetable for when he'll resume throwing. Sale said he feels good physically, and he doesn't expect it to be too long before he's cleared to resume throwing. The southpaw also expects that he won't be starting from "zero" in getting ready for the season when he is eventually cleared. The 33-year-old is recovering from a stress fracture on the right side of his rib cage and will begin the season on the injured list. Sale is a seven-time All-Star and is usually lights-out when he's healthy, but he's thrown only 42 2/3 innings in the last two seasons combined and has fallen to No. 43 in RotoBaller's rankings for fantasy starters.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib) said he's feeling much better and plans to start throwing early next week. However, there's still no timetable for his return, although he's in good spirits and much improved. The 32-year-old left-hander is nursing a stress fracture on the right side of his rib cage this spring and will open the regular season on the injured list. His fantasy stock is obviously down due to the injury, and there has been speculation that he may not make his 2022 debut until sometime in early May. The seven-time All-Star has high-end fantasy upside when healthy, but he missed all of the 2020 season and made only nine starts for Boston last year.

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said that starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib) has a stress fracture in his rib cage and won't be ready for the start of the 2022 season. Sale suffered the injury to the right side of his rib cage while recently throwing a live batting practice session. With the 32-year-old left-hander to begin the season on the injured list, expect Nathan Eovaldi to get the Opening Day nod on April 7. It's unclear what Sale's timeline for a return will be, but this will obviously knock him down a few pegs on cheat sheets for fantasy baseball drafts. There is certainly plenty of injury risk with the seven-time All-Star, as Sale missed all of the 2020 season and made just nine starts last year for the BoSox due to injury.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale started out sharp in Wednesday's ALCS Game 5 against the Houston Astros, but ultimately he took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven batters. Sale has put up an 8.00 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP in his three starts and nine innings this postseason. For his career, he's an unimpressive 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in 10 playoff appearances. Sale could still regain his form as a top starter next season, but there's plenty of reason for pause as he continues to make his way back to full strength after Tommy John surgery.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale made his second start of the postseason in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros Friday, and once again he did not last long. Sale recorded just eight outs, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. While he looked better than his one-inning appearance against the Tampa Bay Rays in the division series, he still threw predominantly fastballs and sliders, and remains a major question mark for Boston going forward. He stands to get another start in the series, unless manager Alex Cora decides to go another direction.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale will start for the team in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Friday. Sale pitched to a 3.16 ERA, a 3.69 FIP, 52 strikeouts and 12 walks in 42 2/3 innings during the regular season. The veteran allowed five earned runs, four hits, a home run and a walk while striking out two batters in an inning during his start in the second game of the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. While he's yet to face the Astros this season, Sale has pitched to a 2.20 ERA in 65 1/3 career innings against the club while recording 86 strikeouts and surrendering 13 walks.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale continued his recent string of rough outings Friday, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk in just one inning of work against the Tampa Bay Rays. The big blow was a grand slam off the bat of part-time player Jordan Luplow. Sale struck out two batters. He will not be used as a traditional reliever going forward due to health concerns, but it would be hard to trust Sale as a DFS play in any situation.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale was ineffective in Sunday's season finale against the Washington Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out seven batters, and left the game after 62 pitches in position for the loss, though he was saved by a Boston comeback that clinched a playoff spot for the team. Sale pitched quite well in his nine starts this season, recording a 5-1 record with a 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts in 42 2/23 innings. He'll enter the postseason healthy, and with the potential to be top-end fantasy starter in 2022.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale was handed his first loss of the season Tuesday against the lowly Baltimore Orioles, and it couldn't have come at a worse time for Boston fans or fantasy managers. Sale cruised through five innings, but gave up three in the sixth, leaving him with those three runs allowed on four hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He now has a 2.90 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings this season. He figures to line up for one more start on the final day of the season.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale improved his record to 5-0 Wednesday, earning the win in a 12-5 victory over the New York Mets by allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out eight batters. Sale has looked to be in top form in his seven starts since coming off the injured list, recording a 2.57 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 35 innings. There aren't many better fantasy options down the stretch of the season.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale came off the COVID list to start Friday's game against the Baltimore Orioles and he pitched very well, allowing just one run on two hits and no walks with one strikeout in five innings. With this win, Sale now has a 4-0 record to go with a 2.40 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 30 innings across six starts this season. With Boston looking to maximize his participation with a playoff spot on the line, he should be an excellent fantasy play the rest of the season.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale is on schedule to make his next start on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Sale landed on the COVID-10 injured list last week after testing positive for the virus, but he has been asymptomatic and he has been staying active and working out in order to be ready for his return. The veteran lefty has looked solid over his five starts so far this year. He's gone 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP to go along with a 5.0 K/BB rate.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale has a "good chance" to return during this coming weekend's series against the Baltimore Orioles, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Sale tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday. He has been asymptomatic and doing all that he can to prepare himself while quarantining at home. Fantasy managers should make sure that Sale is rostered and ready to slot into a starting spot when he's back. Over five starts on the year, Sale has gone 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale has tested positive for COVID-19. He becomes the 10th Red Sox player to do so since August 27th, and the 12th to be placed on the COVID list. He will no longer make his scheduled start on Sunday. This is the second time Sale has tested positive, as he previously disclosed that he had experienced a mild case of the virus in January. He will miss a minimum of 10 days. Nick Pivetta may be able to return from the COVID list and slot into Sale's vacated rotation spot, but if he isn't available, Boston may have to resort to a bullpen game. Fantasy managers should hold Sale on their rosters for now.