BOSTON — The long road back is almost finished for Liam Hendriks.

Hendriks, 36, who has battled both leukemia and a major elbow injury in recent years, is expected to be activated Saturday. Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that there’s a “good chance” that Hendriks will be added to the team’s active roster for the second game of Boston’s four-game set with the Chicago White Sox.

The team optioned Friday’s starter, Hunter Dobbins, back to Worcester after he earned the win in a 10-3 victory at Fenway, creating an open roster spot for the activation of Hendriks.

Hendriks had been expected to be part of the team’s Opening Day roster, but some inflammation in his surgically-repaired right elbow sent him to the IL to start the season. He subsequently made three scoreless minor league rehab appearances.

The Sox signed Hendriks to a two-year contract during 2024 spring training, with the realization that he likely wouldn’t contribute in the first year after undergoing Tommy John surgery the previous summer.

Hendriks had hoped to make it back last September, but couldn’t get over a few physical hurdles, postponing his comeback until this season.

He last pitched in the big leagues in June of 2023 for the White Sox. In his career, he has been a two-time All-Star and saved 116 games, including back-to-back years in which he saved a total of 75 games for the White Sox.