Alex Cora said right-hander Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain) bounced back well from his bullpen session on Saturday and is trending towards making a rehab start later this week.

“For my end I’d like him to go down there and make a start, three or four innings, and come back, but he’ll let us know how he feels,” Cora said.

Fellow starter Brayan Bello (right lat tightness) is also feeling much better and Cora says he expects the right-hander will be back “sooner rather than later.” The club is less optimistic about righty Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain), who is playing catch but still feels pain in his side. He is not yet throwing off a mound.

Vaughn Grissom (left hamstring strain) enjoyed a terrific performance in what was likely his final rehab game with the WooSox, going 4 for 4 with a walk and two RBI to help lead the club to an 8-5 win over Toledo. The expectation is he’ll be activated ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants, and that newly acquired first baseman Garrett Cooper will join the team as well.

Cora also confirmed the club’s starting pitchers for the Giants series, saying Cooper Criswell will start on Tuesday night, Kutter Crawford will start on Wednesday and Josh Winckowski on Thursday.