Red Sox targeting mid-August return for ace Chris Sale

Chris Sale's return to the mound is getting nearer. 

The left-hander has spent most of the 2021 campaign rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in Fort Myers, Fla., but his arrival to Boston this week signals that the Red Sox ace may be ready to return soon. 

According to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey, the Red Sox are targeting a mid-August return for the 2018 World Series champion. 

"Two months away, that's a reasonable guess at this point, without putting a date on it," pitching coach Dave Bush said. "Where he is right now is about where guys would be right before they show up in Fort Myers, which is on the mound, building up their bullpen strength. The next step when they show up in spring training is a couple of bullpens, live BP then games, so that's a reasonable assumption for where we are right now."

Sale could have possibly returned sooner, but he was delayed in the fall by a neck issue and set back again in January after contracting COVID-19.

The 32-year-old jokingly told manager Alex Cora that he'd be ready to pitch next week for the second game in Atlanta because he wants to hit at Truist Park.

When Sale returns, he likely won't get the opportunity to step up to the plate. A mid-August return would have him facing either the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees or Texas Rangers. At that point, the Red Sox don't face a National League opponent away from Fenway Park until October. 

Sale hasn't pitched since 2019, which was a down year for him. He went 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA, 1.086 WHIP and 218 strikeouts in 147.1 innings. The Florida native is hoping Tommy John surgery returns him to his All-Star form. Before 2019, he was an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons.