But Buchholz is starting to settle into a groove. Last Sunday, he had a strong seven-inning, two-run outing in a loss to Tampa Bay, and he carried that momentum into Friday night's game against Toronto, in which he was brilliant.
The Red Sox got a much more composed Buchholz on Friday. He had his fastball working early and often, mixing in the changeup and curveball in the right situations. Buchholz managed to last eight innings, giving up just two runs and striking out seven, bringing his ERA down to 6.58.
Despite his rocky start, Buchholz still holds a 5-2 record on the season, and with his recent improvement, he may end up being a pitcher the Red Sox can lean on. If that happens, his turn in the rotation will bring forth a new set of emotions for Sox fans.