The Red Sox placed Paxton (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton has been pain-free for a while but will get a late start to the season. The veteran left-hander is slated to begin a rehab assignment Monday and is on track for a mid-April return.

Paxton (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Worcester or the rookie-level Florida Complex League club, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox would ideally have Paxton face higher-level competition at Triple-A as he builds back up from the right hamstring strain that will keep him on the injured list to begin the season, but colder weather in the Northeast could prompt the team to have him make his first rehab outing in Florida. Paxton threw two simulated innings Wednesday and was showcasing a fastball that sat around 94-to-96 miles per hour, so his arm appears to be in good condition after he didn't pitch in the majors in 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and then a lat strain suffered last August in a rehab start. The veteran southpaw will likely need to build up to around five innings over the course of 2-to-3 starts in the minors before he's considered an option for the big-league rotation.

Paxton (hamstring) will pitch two innings in a backfield game Wednesday, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 34-year-old lefty made five starts in 2020, one in 2021 and none in 2022, with arm troubles (including Tommy John surgery) the primary culprit. He looked healthy at the start of camp but promptly strained his hamstring in his first spring start. He's working his way back again but won't be available for a few more weeks. Paxton's expected to ramp up one inning at a time, so he still likely has four or five outings to go before the Red Sox activate him. If that pattern holds, he won't be make his season debut until the second half of April at the earliest.

Paxton (hamstring) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

This represents a significant step forward for Paxton, who, as Abraham notes, essentially had to start all over again with his throwing program after suffering a hamstring strain earlier this month. Paxton will not be ready for Opening Day and the lefty may end up needing a minor-league start or two to prepare for his return. Tanner Houck is expected to fill a rotation spot in the meantime.

Paxton (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton returned to the mound with a bullpen session Saturday and it's a good sign that he was ready for another one three days later. The left-hander will not be ready for Opening Day due to a right hamstring strain, but he's trending toward a return sometime in April if he continues to progress.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that Paxton (hamstring) will throw another bullpen in the next three-to-four days, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora said that everything went well Saturday with Paxton's bullpen session, and it's a positive sign that he'll be back on the mound for another round shortly after. The left-hander is all but a lock to open the season on the injured list, but it does appear that Paxton will make starts for Boston in April as long as there's no setback.

Paxton (hamstring) threw 25 pitches off the mound Saturday in a bullpen session, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton told Browne after the session that he felt good, and wasn't thinking about his hamstring at all. It's a positive sign for the southpaw, who has not been able to pitch this spring while recovering from a right hamstring strain. The next step for Paxton is to face live hitting, and then hopefully the 34-year-old will get a chance to pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the exhibition season ends. It's still very likely Paxton will open the season on the injured list.

Paxton (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is his first such session since he suffered a hamstring injury March 3. Paxton won't be ready for Opening Day.

Paxton will undergo testing on his injured hamstring Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

If he's cleared to return after Friday's exam, Paxton will begin throwing bullpen sessions. He's one of three possible rotation members expected to open the season on the injured list. Garrett Whitlock (hip) made his spring debut Wednesday and Brayan Bello (forearm) is expected to follow shortly.

Paxton (hamstring) played long-toss and did some dry throwing from a mound Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

"Dry throwing," as in he went through his throwing motion but didn't actually throw a ball. Paxton is progressing slowly but surely from a right hamstring strain, but it's not clear when he might be ready to face hitters or pitch in a game. He is not expected to be ready at the start of the season.