Triston Casas (torn cartilage in ribcage) is set to take a major step towards a return, as Cora announced the first baseman will begin a rehab assignment with the Worcester Red Sox on Tuesday.

Casas hasn’t played since April 20, at which point he’d gotten off to a strong start with a .244 batting average, six home runs and an .857 OPS over his first 22 games. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has indicated over the past week that Casas has turned a corner in his recovery and barring any setbacks he now looks set to return to the Red Sox lineup at some point in August.

Several other injured Red Sox may not be far away either.

Right-handers Chris Martin and Justin Slaten (both right elbow inflammation) are both doing long toss at 120 and 90 feet, respectively, and could get back on the mound by the end of the week. Each could begin a rehab assignment at some point soon after, and Cora said a return after the upcoming road trip to Texas and Kansas City could be within the realm of possibility.

Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain) is continuing his rehab work in Worcester too. Grissom started at second base for the WooSox on Sunday and went 2 for 5 with an RBI in the team’s 6-5 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Grissom has now played seven games at Triple-A since his assignment began on July 20 and is 6 for 26 (.230) over that stretch.