Buchholz Building Confidence for October’s Big Stage

Pivotal Thursday night, late in the year, and you've got a youngster on the mound pitching a must-win game to close out a big series.

Is that something you want to hear again next month?

It was true for both the Red Sox and the host Rays this week. After the two AL wild card contenders split the first two games of a three-game set at Tropicana Field, it was up to Clay Buchholz and David Price to duke it out in the rubber match.

Price, who just turned 24 a week ago, was just a kid fresh out of Vanderbilt, but already with big-game experience. He had shut down the Red Sox out of the Tampa Bay bullpen in the ALCS a year ago. Buchholz, 25, had been up and down from the major leagues for a couple of years, but with no big-game experience in the majors to speak of.

Looks like he didn't need it.

On Thursday night, the Red Sox saw the Clay Buchholz they had been hoping to see all along. He pitched six innings for the Sox, allowing six runs on three hits, and earned his fourth win of the season. He remains undefeated since August 13.

After a dreadful start against Chicago two weeks ago, he came through with his second consecutive impressive outing. First the Blue Jays last weekend, against whom he nearly went the distance, and now the daunting Rays offense.

Is it time to see if he can do this on the big stage?

Toward the end of a Red Sox season characterized by immense pitching depth, the team enters September with a whole host of difficult questions. This is no longer a team with six qualified big-league starters and four more waiting in the wings — it's a team with two aces and a whole lot of uncertainty after that.

After the past couple of weeks, it's time to suggest that maybe, just maybe, Clay Buchholz is on the fast track to the No. 3 spot in the Boston playoff rotation.

Let's think about this. At the front of the rotation, the Sox have Josh Beckett — and despite his four troubling starts in a row, Beckett is still the Red Sox' ace. Then there's Jon Lester, who has done nothing but improve this season with his aggression and his ability to work deep into games.

Then what? Is it Buchholz?

We all assumed the early favorite was Tim Wakefield, after the knuckleballer earned his first career All-Star selection back in July. But with the 43-year-old's health constantly in question, there's no way the Sox can be assured he'll be ready for October. He's apparently on the way back — but for how long, exactly, no one knows. Pencil Wake in as a "maybe."

Then there's Daisuke Matsuzaka — the 28-year-old gave the Sox 5.1 strong innings in Game 3 of the 2007 World Series, and he's a two-time MVP of the World Baseball Classic. He's certainly no stranger to winning big games. And despite his health problems, Dice-K still has plenty to offer the Red Sox. But can he be relied upon in October? Don't rule it out, but don't hold your breath, either.

You can forget about John Smoltz and Brad Penny, both released by the team's front office in the past month. You can likely also rule out Junichi Tazawa and Michael Bowden, who haven't been able to hang onto a spot in the majors, let alone in October. Paul Byrd is a darkhorse, but it's hard to imagine a guy going from retired in August to dominating in October. You're asking a lot.

Buchholz is starting to look like the favorite for the job. And after what we've seen from him the past few weeks, would that be such a bad thing?

We always knew Buchholz would develop into a top-line starter, the kind of guy you could always count on when October rolled around. He's going to be thrust into that role someday, because it's ultimately where he belongs.

So why not right now?

Two months ago, Clay Buchholz was battling in Triple-A. A month from now, he could be battling for a trip to the World Series.

No one really saw this coming, but it's on the horizon now. You'd better believe it.