BOSTON — Red Sox manager Terry Francona has confirmed that Andrew Miller will start Monday night at Fenway Park against San Diego.
Miller had an opt-out clause in his contract that allowed him to be a free agent if there was no promotion from Pawtucket, or plans for a promotion, by June 15. After meeting with general manager Theo Epstein that day, Miller and the organization came to an agreement. That accord will see the lefty join a rotation that is in a state of flux once again.
The Red Sox have not said how the rotation will be handled once Miller arrives, but the timing could be perfect. Clay Buchholz remains bothered by a bad back and could use some extra days here and there to get ready. If not for Miller's arrival, and the presence of some scheduled days off in the coming two weeks, Buchholz could be headed to the disabled list.
"He’s going to fight us tooth and nail to not miss a start, which we like, but we need to see how he progresses the next couple of days," Francona said of Buchholz, who left his start Thursday after just five innings. "There's no reason for us to have to do anything for a couple [of days], so we'll see how it plays out."
Buchholz was given two extra days of rest before his start last Friday in Toronto. He allowed just a run on three hits in seven innings, and was off to a good start in Tampa Bay on Thursday. However, the back pain remained and the club wanted to get him out of there before it became a more serious issue.
At the very least, Buchholz will need extra time off once again, Francona said.
"I think at the very best we’re going to back him up a couple of days," the manager added. "Last time, when he got the two extra days and really didn’t do anything, it helped. The best-case scenario is we back him up a few days … We’ve all had backs that act up. Pitching and throwing 90 to 100 pitches is probably not the best thing for it, so we would want to calm it down.
"I think we thought we had gotten to that point. Obviously we didn’t."
Miller was 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for the PawSox. He had been exceptional of late, going 2-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 26 strikeouts against just three walks in his last four outings. That surge somewhat forced the hand of the Red Sox, who did not want to see him go. The Buchholz issue made it an easier decision to promote Miller.
The 26-year-old southpaw, who was taken sixth overall in 2006, was 1-5 with an 8.54 ERA in nine games (seven starts) for the Florida Marlins last year.
