BOSTON -- The Red Sox have begun to show some chinks in their armor, having lost six of their last eight games, but despite their current run of form, things on the injury front seem to be progressing in the proper direction as they head towards the final month of the regular season.
Prior to Tuesday night's home game vs. the Marlins, Boston manager Alex Cora announced that Eduardo Rodriguez will return to the rotation Saturday in Chicago, after a right ankle sprain sidelined him for more than a month.
The left-hander made his second and final rehab start at Double-A Portland on Monday, striking out six and allowing two hits over four scoreless innings.
"He was OK yesterday," Cora said. "He only went four. I watched the game. There were some good at-bats against him. Where he's at physically, and obviously with the repetitions, we're comfortable with him. He went 76 pitches. He's a full go. I think bringing him back is going to help us out not only in the rotation, but it's going to help our bullpen."
In Monday's outing, Rodriguez enjoyed the benefit of having fellow rehabber Christian Vazquez behind the dish.
Vazquez also caught Steven Wright's first rehab start on Tuesday. Wright, who had one strikeout and one free pass over two scoreless innings, was placed on the 10-day DL on June 22 with left knee inflammation.
"Christian is catching Steven, which is good," said Cora, who went on to explain Vazquez's plan for the week. "He'll DH tomorrow in Triple-A, most likely catch again on Thursday, and then if everything goes well, hopefully he can join us in Chicago."
Also continuing forward progress is third baseman Rafael Devers, who has been out of action since Aug. 15 with a left hamstring strain.
The 21-year-old has resumed full baseball activities and will begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Wednesday, though the club was unsure as of where yet.
Chris Sale, who has been on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation since Aug. 18, began to play catch on Monday, with additional work on Tuesday, though Cora was hesitant to say when the Sox's ace would return to the rotation.
"There's no day that we're shooting for," said Cora. "The day we are shooting for is when he's ready to pitch. Yesterday was a good start. Today he'll go out again and do it, and we'll see what he's going to do tomorrow."