While Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale is expected to open the season on the IL, the Boston ace is not expected to need Tommy John surgery, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Sale reportedly received an MRI Tuesday for a sore elbow after experiencing discomfort following his first live throwing session since August 2019.
The seven-time All-Star struggled mightily in 2019, his third year with the Red Sox. Sale posted a career-worst 4.40 ERA, going 6–11 in 147 1/3 innings. Sale was shut down for the season in August due to a left elbow injury.