John Farrell‘s decision to start John Lackey in Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday was made primarily due to Lackey’s success pitching at home this season.
But the call did lead some to question whether Clay Buchholz, who pitched Game 2 of the ALCS, is fully healthy.
Buchholz is dealing with some “physical issues,” WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reported early Wednesday, citing a team source. These “issues” are reportedly relatively minor, however, as the right-hander is fully expected to make his next scheduled start in St. Louis.
Jon Lester and Lackey will start Games 1 and 2 for Boston on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Buchholz and Jake Peavy are slated to go in Games 3 and 4, though who will start which game has not yet been announced.
“Everything is OK [with Buchholz], we fully expect he and Jake to be pitching on the weekend in St. Louis,” Farrell said Tuesday while explaining the decision to start Lackey in Game 2. “[The decision was made based on] the way [Lackey] came out of his game over in Detroit, and not allowing too many days of rest to get away from that previous start of his. … That’s the primary reason to get John back in there in Game 2.”
Injuries were a problem for Buchholz this season, limiting him to just 16 starts during an otherwise dominant regular season. He has struggled thus far in the postseason, failing to pitch past the sixth inning in any of his three starts, but Farrell reportedly has no intention of replacing him in the rotation.
“While a source suggested there are some physical issues Buchholz is dealing with,” Bradford writes, “there is presently nothing that the Red Sox anticipate will force an alteration to the team’s postseason rotation.”
