BOSTON -- Guess who's coming to dinner? Edwin Encarnacion and Gary Sánchez knocked on David Ortiz's front door on the eve of Friday's series opener against the Red Sox, checking on the retired slugger's progress as he recovers from a shooting in the Dominican Republic on June 9.

Encarnacion and Ortiz are close friends, and Sanchez also maintains a relationship with Big Papi, noting that they swapped text messages during his injury-marred 2018 season. Encarnacion said that they spent about three hours with Ortiz at his Boston-area home, dining on chicken and rice.

"The way I see he is right now, I am very happy for him," Encarnacion said. "Same David. Playing around, joking around, talking. He looks like normal. He's the same guy."

Ortiz was ambushed outside a restaurant in Santo Domingo in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Encarnacion said that he visited with Ortiz during the Yanks' previous visit to Boston in early August, and that the 43-year-old Ortiz appears to be much stronger as he continues to rehab.

"He looks good," Encarnacion said. "He looks great. He could still [play]."

Sanchez said that he was introduced to Ortiz during his rookie season in 2016, the same year Ortiz retired.

"He's always been very good to me," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "He has always given me very good advice. Even going back to last year, when I was struggling. I had a rough season last season. There were some spots where he gave me really good advice. That's the way he's always been."

In general, Sanchez said that Ortiz encouraged him to focus on his defense, since Sanchez had already proven that he could hit big league pitching. Sanchez added that Ortiz told him that he is pleased to see him having a strong season on both sides of the ball.

"He's a big inspiration," Sanchez said. "I've been watching David since I was a little kid. Him, Manny [Ramirez], Pedro Martinez, all those guys. Being from the Dominican Republic, you paid attention to what those guys were doing at the time. He's not only an inspiration to me, but he has been an inspiration for many generations."

CC's 'encouraging' session

As CC Sabathia aims to conclude his final season on a strong note, the left-hander returned to the bullpen mound on Friday at Fenway Park, tossing pitches under the supervision of Yankees manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

"I thought it was very encouraging," Boone said. "I thought he looked strong and was really getting out in front with his pitches. It looked pretty crisp for a side. Hopefully an encouraging step for him and we'll see how he is in the days ahead."

Sabathia has been on the injured list since Aug. 31 with right knee inflammation. Though he has only made one career relief appearance -- in Game 5 of the 2011 American League Division Series against the Tigers -- Boone said that it is possible the Yankees could consider bringing Sabathia back as a reliever to help in the postseason.

"We'll consider everything," Boone said. "First and foremost is, today was a positive step and now where do we go from here? Is he able to jump right back into the rotation? We'll see how he bounces back from that, but I would say everything would be on the table. We want to win, and CC as much as anyone does."

Comeback trail

Jordan Montgomery (recovery from Tommy John surgery) has made two Minor League rehab starts, and the left-hander is scheduled to start another game on Monday, depending on the postseason schedules for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

"With Monty, we're playing a long-term game a lot more because of the nature of his injury and his return," Boone said. "But we've certainly been encouraged by what he's been able to do, and he could be in the mix [for a September callup] here."

Giancarlo Stanton (right PCL strain) had five plate appearances in a simulated game and worked out in right field at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., on Friday, according to The Associated Press. Stanton is expected to participate in another simulated game on Saturday.

Additionally, Jacoby Ellsbury (numerous injuries) remains at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, where he worked out indoors on Friday. Ellsbury has not played on a Major League field since Game 4 of the 2017 American League Championship Series.

This date in Yankees history

Sept. 6, 1981: The Yankees make a late-season managerial change, dismissing Gene Michael and rehiring Bob Lemon, whose gentle touch had guided the club to a 1978 World Series title. Under Lemon, the Yanks grab another American League pennant before falling to the Dodgers in a six-game Fall Classic.