Chris Sale getting closer to return for Red Sox

Chris Sale is inching closer to returning for the Red Sox -- and can't wait to contribute to Boston's starting rotation, according to ESPN.

The 32-year-old left-hander has faced live batters three times now as he works back from having Tommy John surgery in March of last year. In Wednesday's session, he threw "fastballs at 94-95 mph alongside a mix of sliders and changeups," according to ESPN's Joon Lee. He will now go to the Red Sox spring training facility in Florida to get more work in before potentially going on a Triple-A rehab assignment. 

If there are no setbacks, Sale could return to Boston's rotation in August.

Right now, Sale's big focus is "what I look like when I am pitching on the mound during games and (simulated) games and rehab games and how I bounce back the next day."

"Those are the two biggest things for me right now," he added. "How does the ball look when I am out there pitching and when I wake up the next morning. What does it feel like?"

With Boston currently occupying first place in the NL East, questions about making a deep postseason run are already swirling. Sale was asked on Thursday if he could be a key piece in getting the Red Sox to a World Series.

"That's the plan," he said. "Our staff has done a hell of a job up to this point... We've got the best offense in baseball and you've got to throw the ball too, and our guys have done an unbelievable job keeping us in games and putting up big starts when we need it. And for me, I just gotta come in and do my job."