Red Sox left-handed pitcher Chris Sale begins throwing program

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale took a step forward toward his return as it’s been reported he has started a throwing program.

Chris Sale is on the comeback trail. The Boston Red Sox have been without their ace since he landed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation on August 18. They won’t be without him much longer.

A return is on the horizon. NBC Sports Boston’s Evan Drellich reports that Sale started a throwing program on Monday, a significant step in his recovery.

This is Sale’s second stint on the DL due to his sore shoulder. The first trip cost him just over two weeks. He returned to toss five shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles on August 12. Sale was kept on a strict pitch count but breezed through an efficient outing, allowing only one hit and striking out 12. The abbreviated outing was assumed to be precautionary and Sale appeared to come out of that start no worse for wear. Then right before he was scheduled to make his next start, Sale was sent back to the shelf.

The lefty wasn’t thrilled by the team’s decision to sideline him again, claiming he could pitch if this were the postseason. We knew the Red Sox wanted to limit his workload to avoid the late-season fade he scuffled through last year but a second DL stint seems a bit more than merely being careful.

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As far as Sale is concerned, he’s healthy and ready to get back on the mound. When the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham asked how his shoulder felt, Sale responded, “like Paul Bunyan’s ox.” I guess that means he’s feeling strong?

The Red Sox need their ace to come back strong. They are 5-7 since Sale went on the DL and have allowed the New York Yankees to shave off four games from their division lead. Obviously, Sale wouldn’t have factored into all those losses. As a starting pitcher, he would only participate once every five days.

However, losing a workhorse like Sale has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the staff. Nobody was expecting Hector Velazquez to replace Sale’s production but relying on spot starters weakens the overall rotation. It also forces the bullpen to shoulder a heavier workload.

Not to mention the confidence boost this team would receive by getting their ace back. Boston dropped all three games in Tampa Bay last weekend, the first time all season that they’ve been swept. They could use a stopper to step up and end this losing streak. Sale is the type of pitcher we rely on for this situation but he’s not available yet.

He will be soon though. With his throwing program beginning today, it should take Sale about two weeks to pitch in a game. We’re rapidly approaching the end of the minor league schedule so that time frame will make it difficult to fit in a rehab start. Pawtucket plays their last regular season on September 3, which is only a week away. Sale may need to settle for a simulated game to get ready.

Sale was on quite a roll prior to this shoulder injury. He’s 6-0 and has allowed only one earned run over his last seven starts. If the Red Sox get that version of Sale back in the near future then their recent skid will soon become a distant memory.