Clay Buchholz is inching closer to returning to the Boston Red Sox, and the next step in his recovery process will take place Friday in Pawtucket.
The right-handed pitcher is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket later this week with the hopes that he can toss five innings after throwing three frames in a simulated game in Detroit on Sunday.
“We’ll see how we get through Friday,” manager John Farrell said, via WEEI. “But it’s not like he’s coming off an arm ailment or anything with the throwing, the arm action. We feel like we can go from a three-inning sim game to five innings of work. We’ll see where he’s at after Friday.”
The Red Sox placed Buchholz, who has struggled mightily this season to the tune of a 7.02 ERA, on the 15-day disabled list on May 28 with a hyperextended left knee. There’s still no exact timetable on his return, but Buchholz’s start with the PawSox is certainly a step in the right direction.
