Levine: Chris Sale Likely To Throw Simulated Game Friday
By Bruce Levine--
GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS) -- The progress report on White Sox ace Chris Sale is all positive as he makes his way back to the mound from a right ankle sprain and broken bone on Feb. 27. On Monday, Sale did outside running with his teammates for the first time since suffering the injury.
"It feels good to feel like a baseball player again," Sale said after working out with the team.
Sale will throw a bullpen Tuesday and then pitch in some kind of competitive game Friday. Sale threw a bullpen session of 60 pitches last Friday and, more importantly, felt great physically Saturday. In that session, he threw four sets of 15 pitches in his first instance of serious throwing since the injury.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura was cautious about the Friday game, saying it probably will be a simulated contest. Ventura is pleased with Sale's rehab so far.
"We are mostly concerned with his pitch count," Ventura said. "We want to see him get up and down. We are starting over with him. You just have to make sure he throws the right amount and monitor it. We will wait to see how he does first before we go ahead with anything else. He knows what the schedule is in five days. Still if he doesn't hit it, we don't want it to be a step back for him."
Sale told MLB.com that he will throw five innings or 75 pitches Friday.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
