The path to the World Series got easier Monday for the New York Yankees, following updates to a pair of American League aces.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale will miss the rest of the regular season after having his sore elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. The good news is Sale does not require Tommy John surgery. The bad news is Sale is shut down for the rest of the regular season.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski updated Sale’s status in a statement on Monday. Per MLB.com:

“Sale was evaluated by Dr. James Andrews this morning in Pensacola, Florida,” Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said a statement. “Dr. Andrews confirmed that Sale has inflammation in his left elbow and treated it with a platelet-rich plasma injection. Dr. Andrews also recommended a period of shutdown from throwing. Sale will be re-evaluated in six weeks by Dr. Andrews.”

Sale has struggled all season, going 6-11 with a with a career-worst 4.40 ERA in 25 starts.

The Red Sox are scrambling to defend their World Series title, and the job won’t be any easier without Sale in the rotation. Boston is in third place in the American League East, 16 games behind the first-place Yankees. The Red Sox are six games back in the wild-card race.

The Cleveland Indians lead in the American League wild-card race and are two games behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. But the Indians’ playoff push will continue without ace Corey Kluber, who left his rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Columbus. MLB.com reports Kluber was scheduled to throw 75 pitches, but left after throwing 20.

Kluber returned to Cleveland Monday for an MRI. The examination confirmed Kluber has an “internal oblique strain.” He will begin a rehab program and will be re-examined in two weeks to see when he can resume throwing.

Medical update on RHP Corey Kluber pic.twitter.com/RFgj4ZGOcq — Tribeinsider (@tribeinsider) August 20, 2019

Kluber has been out since May 1 with a broken right forearm.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.