Chris Sale released from hospital, set to rejoin Red Sox Tuesday

HOUSTON -- Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale, who spent most of Sunday and Sunday night in Massachusetts General Hospital with an undisclosed stomach illness, was released from the hospital Monday afternoon and is set to rejoin his teammates here Tuesday as they get ready for Game 3 of their American League Championship Series against the Astros.

"Everything's fine,' said manager Alex Cora. "So we'll see how he feels physically and then after that, we'll decide what we're going to do. We need him to get here first and then see how he feels. From everything I've heard, he should be fine and it's a matter of him showing up and we'll talk to him and see how he feels physically and go from there.''

Cora said Sale felt "ill right after (Saturday's) game (and) started throwing up.'' Cora said Sale went to the hospital very early Sunday morning when he first fell ill and was admitted and held for observation.

According to Cora, he didn't think Sale's illness had anything to do with a reaction to the medication the pitcher may have been taking to address the mild left shoulder inflammation he's been battling since the end of July.

"No, not that I know of,'' Cora said.

While Sale is out of the hospital and feeling better, it may be too soon to greenlight him for his scheduled Game 5 start here Thursday.

"Thank God, it's nothing that is serious at all,'' said Cora. "Like I said, he'll be here (Tuesday) and hopefully, physically, he's ready to go and we'll decide when he pitches.''

The Sox could have other options for Game 5 if necessary. They could stitch together a bullpen game with numerous relievers, as other teams have done in the postseason. Or they could start lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who has been transitioned to the bullpen, but was a starter during the season.

It's virtually impossible to envision the Sox taking Sale off the playoff roster because of the stomach ailment: first, because it seems minor, and secondly, because it would, under MLB rules, also make him ineligible for the World Series.

Sale pitched poorly in Game 1 Saturday night, knocked around for two runs in four innings, with four walks allowed. It was just the third postseason start of his career.