Buchholz Set To Return Tuesday vs. Rays
BOSTON (CBS) - Clay Buchholz will make his long-awaited return to the Red Sox rotation Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Manager John Farrell announced Boston's plan for Buchholz on Sunday.
"Seventy-five to 80 pitches is probably a reasonable number to throw,'' said Farrell -- according to ESPNBoston.com. "We know there will be an increase in intensity, as we look for him to make that first step back.''
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"Our goal for the remainder of the month would be not only to stretch him out, but to see if there's a certain dependability we get from him. We really can't expect him to come back and pitch to the form that led him to be a 1.70 ERA and the record that he has," said Farrell. "But starting on Tuesday, if that's the day he will begin with, we're hopeful we get a guy that's close to what he was prior to the injury and certainly will be an additional lift to this rotation.''
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Buchholz last started on June 8 against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing two earned runs over 6.2 innings to improve to 9-0 on the season.
The Red Sox are hoping he can make four starts during the regular season, while giving their other starters some extra rest. Felix Doubront will be skipped this time around, Farrell announced, with Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy starting the final two games in the three-game set against the Rays.
