It appears that Michael Wacha is ready to make his return to the Boston Red Sox.
The 31-year-old completed another rehab outing on Tuesday, pitching 4 1/3 innings of two-run baseball for Double-A Portland. Wacha threw 51-of-79 pitches for strikes, striking out five, walking two and allowing four hits.
Wacha and the Red Sox avoided a potential disaster when the righty took a line-drive off his foot in the first inning. Thankfully for everyone involved, he stayed in the game.
Wacha's latest rehab outing comes after a superb performance at the Triple-A level last Thursday, where he combined with minor leaguers A.J. Politi and Chase Shugart to no-hit the Durham Bulls. He struck out eight batters in 4 2/3 hitless innings in that effort.
Following the start at Triple-A, Wacha said he believed he was ready to make a return to the big leagues. Wacha was placed on the injured list on July 8 due to right shoulder inflammation. Since that placement, the Red Sox have seen nine different pitchers make a start, with only three of those players earning a win.
