Sale (wrist) is officially scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Tigers, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sale threw a successful live batting practice session Wednesday and is now ready for a taste of real competition. The 33-year-old left-hander was limited to 5.2 major-league innings (two starts) last season due to a range of different injuries, but he entered this spring with zero limitations and might just be ready to return to ace-like status in 2023.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Sale (wrist) is in line to make his Grapefruit League debut early next week, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora's comments came before Sale completed another live batting practice session Wednesday, with Abraham noting that the southpaw tossed two innings and 43 pitches during the workout. Assuming Sale experiences no complications coming out of the live session, he could be cleared to cover around two or three innings in his first Grapefruit League start. Sale reported to spring training with no restrictions, but the Red Sox have nonetheless chosen to take things slowly with the prized lefty after he made just two starts in 2022 while missing time with a stress fracture in his rib cage, a broken finger and right wrist surgery. Even so, Sale will be ready to go for Opening Day so long as he avoids any setbacks in his handful of spring outings.

Sale (wrist) threw a simulated inning against live batters Saturday and came away with no issues, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sale threw 23 pitches and avoided hard contact. He said there were command issues against one batter, but Sale was largely pleased with the results, particularly the shape of his breaking ball. The lanky left-hander was limited to two starts last year amid a number of injuries. He sustained a rib injury during a bullpen session in February, then suffered a broken pinkie finger against the Yankees in July followed by a wrist injury in an August bicycle accident. Next up for Sale is a two-inning live bullpen session Thursday before making his spring debut after that.

Sale (wrist) is tentatively scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut March 7 against the Braves, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sale first needs to check a few more boxes by getting through a one-inning live batting practice session this Saturday and then a two-inning live BP round next Thursday. The 33-year-old left-hander logged only 5.2 major-league innings in 2022 due to a fractured wrist, a fractured finger and a stress reaction in his ribcage, but early reports from Red Sox camp have all been encouraging. He could wind up being a big-time value pick in fantasy drafts for 2023.

Sale (wrist) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sale threw another bullpen session Tuesday and will face hitters for the first time in camp this weekend. The veteran left-hander missed most of the 2022 season with a stress fracture in his ribcage, a fractured finger and a fractured wrist, but all appears to be good with Sale so far this spring. It's not clear when he might make his Grapefruit League debut, but the expectation is that he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that it's "realistic" that Sale (wrist) will be ready to go for Opening Day, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora's comments came after Sale threw his first bullpen session of the spring Wednesday and apparently checked out fine. Sale, who is scheduled to throw another side session Saturday, looks as though he'll be going through a relatively normal throwing progression this spring, despite ending the 2022 campaign on the shelf due to a fractured right wrist that he had surgically repaired. The Red Sox are still likely to proceed cautiously with the southpaw this spring due to his injury history and veteran status, so he may not immediately be worked into Grapefruit League rotation like some of the other pitchers who are competing for roster spots and/or starting roles in camp.

Following a bullpen session Wednesday, Sale (wrist) is expected to throw a second one Saturday before facing hitters next week, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sale is getting early work in what is being described as a "normal spring," something the left-hander hasn't experienced since 2019. Injuries have limited him to just 11 starts since, but if he remains healthy this spring, the 33-year-old Sale is expected to be Boston's No. 1 starter.

Sale (wrist) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Abraham notes that this will be the first "normal spring" for Sale in the last 3-4 years. The left-hander missed the first half of the 2022 season due to a stress fracture in his ribcage and then suffered a broken wrist in a bicycle accident in August, ultimately logging just two total appearances for Boston. But both of those injuries are now in the rearview and he'll be looking to return to top-flight form in 2023.

Sale (wrist) has begun throwing off the mound, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sale broke his wrist in a bicycling accident in August, and was limited to just two appearances in the 2022 season. The left-hander has dealt with injuries over the few years, but if healthy, still offers the potential to miss bats when on the mound.

Sale (wrist) opted into the final two years of his five-year, $145 million contract Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

If Sale had been healthy over the first few years of his deal, he may have decided to head back to the open market ahead of his age-34 season, but he simply hasn't been able to stay on the field. He's only made 11 total starts through the first three years of his contract, with Tommy John surgery wiping out all of his 2020 season and most of 2021 before a series of injuries limited him to just two outings in 2022. He's expected to be recovered from wrist surgery (on his non-throwing arm) by spring training and will attempt to be a much more significant contributor next season.