Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale will not pitch on Opening Day, manager Alex Cora confirmed Sunday.

Cora said that was the plan along for the seven-time All-Star, who has pitched only 48 1/3 innings since 2019.

Instead, Cora said there’s a “good chance” that right-hander Corey Kluber will get the honor of facing Baltimore in the March 30 opener at Fenway Park.

Kluber, who turns 37 in April, signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Red Sox in December. The two-time Cy Young Award winner went 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA in 31 starts last season for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sale, 33, was limited to two starts and 5 2/3 innings in 2022 due to a rib stress fracture, a finger fracture and a broken right wrist. The latter resulted from a bicycle accident and ended his season.

–Field Level Media