The Boston Red Sox have played their first 65 games of the season without Chris Sale. The pitcher is dealing with a stress fracture in his ribs that he suffered while throwing batting practice in February.

However, things have been looking up for Sale recently, and his return to the mound doesn't seem so far off anymore. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have a plan in place for Sale's recovery and return.

Rosenthal said that Sale is set to begin his minor league rehabilitation assignment on Monday. He said that injuries like Sale's are tough to predict, labeling his recovery as a “start-by-start,” situation.

“The likely plan is that he will make four or five rehabilitation starts in the minor league. The Red Sox want him to build up to five innings. That's the minimum they want from him in the minors before they bring him back as a starter.”

This news comes just days after Sale threw a simulated game at Fenway Park. He threw 32 pitches through two innings, and, according to Rosenthal, Alex Cora was impressed.

He said the Red Sox manager told him Thursday's outing was “the best he had seen Sale look since the early summer months of 2018.”

With Sale out of commission until at least mid-July, the Red Sox will look to keep their record above .500. They are 1-0 after one of three games against the St. Louis Cardinals, with game 2 Thursday night.