Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is set to make his return to the rotation, which means someone has to be bumped from the starting staff for at least one start.
Buchholz will make his return Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays to start a crucial three-game series between the American League East’s best teams, and the right-hander’s return to the rotation means Felix Doubront is the odd man out. Manager John Farrell announced Sunday that the left-handed starter would be skipped this time through the rotation, but it’s unclear where Doubront will fit into the mix moving forward.
“We feel like [going with] the guys who are keeping the game under control,” Farrell told reporters Sunday in the Bronx. “With Felix, we feel like he needs some added days right now.”
Doubront picked a rough time to start to hit the wall with Buchholz getting set to finally return. Doubront is 2-1 in his last six starts (five of which the Red Sox have actually won), but he has a 6.60 ERA in those games, and opposing hitters are hitting .287 against the southpaw. He’s made two starts in September, giving up a total of 10 runs on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings of work.
Buchholz, who threw a bullpen session Sunday in New York, hasn’t pitched since June 8. He was 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA at the time he went on the disabled list. He’s expected to throw 75-80 pitches Tuesday.
