BOSTON -- The Red Sox are targeting a Minor League rehab start for lefty Eduardo Rodriguez on Thursday at Double-A Portland, and he could only need the one outing before rejoining Boston's rotation.
Rodriguez suffered a right knee subluxation on June 1 and has made steady progress in his recovery, advancing to a 68-pitch simulated game at Fenway Park on Saturday.
"Today was a good work day for Eddie," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "The key for me is seeing the height of the leg kick. The brace that he's wearing now gives him such a greater feeling of stability in the knee that he can be more assertive with the lower half, so the delivery is much more Eddie-like than when he had to adjust in that game in Baltimore. Provided he comes in [Sunday] and feels as he did today, we would target Thursday in Portland for 75-80 pitches."
If everything goes as expected, Rodriguez could pitch for the Red Sox by July 4 or 5 in Texas.
"That would be ideal," Farrell said. "We'll see how that outing goes. He felt like today he could continue on. He didn't feel taxed from a physical standpoint. He was able to maintain some arm strength through the ability to get on the mound multiple times leading up to today, so an encouraging day from Eddie."
In 11 starts this season, Rodriguez is 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA.