Friday’s series opener presents an intriguing pitching matchup, with Jon Lester going up against CC Sabathia. Now, it’s looking like Sunday’s Red Sox-Yankees game could feature an interesting battle as well.
John Farrell said before Thursday’s game in Philadelphia that Buchholz felt good following a bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park, and “everything points to” Buchholz pitching on Sunday.
“Each time he has gotten on the mound since last Sunday, there’s been gradual improvement, and today he’s felt the best of the throwing sessions he’s undergone,” Farrell told reporters on Thursday.
Buchholz last pitched on May 22. He was scratched from his start on Monday because of a sore AC joint (located near the collarbone), and the Red Sox opted to push him back again and have Franklin Morales pitch on Thursday. Buchholz and Farrell have maintained all along that the issue is minor, and now Buchholz could face Hiroki Kuroda in Sunday’s series finale without any limitations.
“The place I originally felt the stiffness, it’s pretty much gone,” Buchholz told reporters on Thursday. “It’s just the soreness from, like I said yesterday, from messing around and pulling and tugging with the muscles, but no, just feels muscular. In the bullpen, threw pretty much max effort. Ball came out of my hand a lot better there too.”
Buchholz holds a 7-0 record and 1.73 ERA. Kuroda, who has been the Yankees’ best starter, has a 6-3 record and 2.39 ERA.
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