Clay Buchholz is set to step back on the mound of the Sox this weekend and will take the hill on Sunday against New York. (Image Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
When the Boston Red Sox agreed to skip his start on Monday – after the right-hander woke up feeling stiffness where his shoulder and collarbone interconnect – the belief was that Clay Buchholz would be ready to pitch by the end of the week. Initially he was slated to start Friday’s game, the series opener at New York, but lingering soreness in his shoulder on Wednesday led directly to that plan being scrapped. However, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, Buchholz reported no problems during a bullpen session on Thursday and John Farrell has confirmed that he’ll start on Sunday.
Buchholz is 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA over 72.2 IP on the year, easily one of the best performances we’ve seen across by baseball over the first two months of the season. The extra rest may ultimately prove beneficial as he tries to reach 30 starts and 200.0 IP for the first time in his career.
Boston enters the three game series in New York with a two game lead in the AL East. Jon Lester opposes CC Sabathia on Friday. Felix Doubront and Phil Hughes pitch on Saturday. Buchholz will square off against Hiroki Kuroda in Sunday night’s game.