Sale may return to face Yankees this weekend

KANSAS CITY-- White Sox manager Robin Ventura said that Chris Sale's return to the mound could come in Chicago's next series with the Yankees.

The White Sox haven't announced their scheduled starters for the upcoming four-game series with the Yankees that begins Thursday. Ventura said that Sale, who made his last start on April 17 because of a flexor muscle strain in his left arm, could be one of them.

"He threw free and easy enough to be able to be one of those guys," Ventura said.

Sale completed a successful bullpen session before Tuesday's game with the Royals, tossing roughly 20 pitches in his latest step toward returning from a month-long disabled list stint.

"I think it's another step in the right direction. I would see sometime in the near future him going back out there," Ventura said.

Ventura said that the club will evaluate Sale again before making any decisions.