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Has Clay Buchholz Made His Last Start For Red Sox?

BOSTON (CBS) -- Thursday night's start against the Rockies may have been Clay Buchholz' last for the Red Sox for the near future.

The always frustrating Buchholz was tagged for six runs over five-plus innings, with three of Colorado's seven hits leaving the yard in Boston's 8-2 loss. He started the evening off with three scoreless innings, but was then tagged for a two-run homer in the fourth and two more two-run blasts in the fifth.

The loss dropped Buchholz to 2-5 and upped his staff-high ERA to 6.35. It was the sixth time the righty has given up five or more runs in his 10 starts this season, and with Eduardo Rodriguez inching closer to a return to the major leagues, there's a good chance the struggling Buchholz will be the odd man out when John Farrell has to shuffle his starting five.

"Yeah, Dave [Dombrowski] and I and [pitching coach] Carl Willis, we always have conversations about every guy," Farrell said after the loss, which snapped a four-game win streak for Boston. "This is no different. We know that Eddie is soon to … or ready, probably, to come back to us. There's been no decision made as of right now."

clay buchholz
Clay Buchholz #11 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after Dustin Garneau #13 of the Colorado Rockies hit a two run homer during the fifth inning at Fenway Park on May 26, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

When that decision does get made, it should be an easy one. Knuckleballer Steven Wright is an impressive 4-4 with a 2.52 ERA (ranking sixth in the American League) and saved the starting rotation early in the season as ace David Price (now 7-1 and looking ace-like) found his footing in Boston. Rick Porcello has bounced back nicely after a tough 2015 to start the season 7-2, and Joe Kelly has been solid in his last two starts, going 2-0 while allowing just two runs in his last 11.2 innings pitched as a starter.

So that leaves Buchholz, who could find his way into the bullpen to try and figure things out. If fans weren't flustered with him before Thursday night, that is likely over now. His ERA has hovered around 6.00 all season, and it seems he can never make a pitch when he needs to the most. Opposing hitters have now taken Buchholz deep 12 times in his 56.2 innings pitched this season.

"I can't say that it's a mechanical thing," said Farrell. "The location of pitches are what has been the nemesis here. It hasn't been one pitch. It's been multiple types of pitches that have reared its head in those spots."

Buchholz isn't worried about losing his spot, saying that call is above his pay grade. He also wouldn't blame his manager for making such a move.

"I'm here to pitch, and if I don't have a spot that's part of it. If you don't like it, pitch better. That's what it comes down to," he said, adding he's not demoralized because the team is still winning. "I'm basically the only one that's struggling. I guess it's better off that way then to have three out of five guys struggling, too.

"The other guys are doing a really good job of picking up the slack that I'm leaving behind, and you figure it's got to change sooner or later to feel as good as I've felt in two and a half, three years. I've got to find a way to get through it," said Buchholz.

Rodriguez started for the Pawtucket Red Sox on Tuesday, allowed one run, off a solo homer, while striking out seven and walking none over seven innings. He's been up and down during his comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him in Spring Training, but seems poised to join the Boston rotation, where he went 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA as a rookie in 2015.

Farrell said after Rodriguez's start on Tuesday that no decision has been made on where the lefty will make his next start. He said something similar Thursday night when it comes to Buchholz's future in the rotation.

As much as Farrell wants to delay that decision, it looks like it has already been made for him.

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