Left-hander Chris Sale rejoins Red Sox, Game 5 status TBD

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale was back with the team on Tuesday before Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in Houston.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale was back with the team on Tuesday before Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in Houston.

Whether he pitches Game 5 on Thursday as scheduled, however, is still to be determined.

"This is what he said: 'I'm good enough,'" Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters after his team beat the Astros 8-2 on Tuesday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The sale will work off the mound prior to Game 4 on Wednesday.

"He'll go out there tomorrow. And then we'll go from there," Cora said.

Sale, hospitalized Sunday for a stomach ailment, was released from the hospital on Monday. Cora said before Tuesday's game that Sale might throw a bullpen session during the contest, though that did not happen.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez likely would start if Sale cannot go, Cora said pregame Tuesday, before Rodriguez threw a scoreless ninth inning. However, the Red Sox also would consider making Game 5 a collective "bullpen game."

The sale started Game 1 and received a no-decision in Houston's 7-2 victory. He gave up two runs, one hit, four walks and a hit batter in four innings. He struck out five but did not have his usual fastball velocity.

Sale went 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA in 27 regular-season starts. He struck out 237 batters in 158 innings, missing time twice due to disabled-list stints caused by an inflamed left (pitching) shoulder.

Red Sox infielder Eduardo Nunez is also banged up, exiting the Tuesday win in the top of the fourth inning with an ankle injury. He was replaced by pinch runner Rafael Devers after hitting a single.

"It's his ankle. It's not his knee," Cora said of Nunez. "I think defensively he's been battling as far as that first step. He hasn't been able to push off. And right before that -- I really wanted him to get one more at-bat against Dallas (Keuchel) because that's why he was in the lineup. But at that point, I wanted to go take him out of the game, get some treatment and put Rafi in the game."