MLB teams
Scott Lauber, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Clay Buchholz spills the beans on his spot in pitching rotation

MLB, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians

BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz ruined the suspense.

Although Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said Tuesday he isn't ready to reveal his starting pitchers for Game 3 or Game 4 of the best-of-five American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, Buchholz spilled the beans, telling reporters before a workout at Fenway Park that he has been informed he will start Game 3 on Sunday in Boston.

"I'm glad this year happened the way it did," said Buchholz, who was exiled to the bullpen in midseason and mentioned in trade rumors before rejoining the rotation in August and going 4-0 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts down the stretch. "There's been a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts' but still found a way to stick around. I think this postseason will be fun."

On Sunday, Farrell confirmed that right-hander Rick Porcello will start Game 1 on Thursday night in Cleveland followed by ace lefty David Price in Game 2 on Friday. Buchholz and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez were expected to round out the Red Sox's postseason rotation, with lefty Drew Pomeranz likely occupying a spot in the bullpen.

Asked about the decision to have Buchholz pitch Game 3, Farrell said the Red Sox "haven't announced that officially" but acknowledged internal discussions about that scenario.

Buchholz makes sense in Game 3 because the Red Sox likely would have him available out of the bullpen for a potential Game 5 next Wednesday in Cleveland. Buchholz made 16 relief appearances this season after being removed from the starting rotation. Rodriguez has never pitched out of the bullpen.

The Red Sox put Buchholz back in the rotation in August in place of injured knuckleballer Steven Wright, and the veteran right-hander's resurgence ranks among the biggest reasons the club was able to pull away from the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles and win the AL East.

"We always felt he was a good pitcher," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "He didn't get a real good start to his year, but I've seen guys have tough times but you still know they have ability. For me, we always thought at some point the depth you have on the pitching staff was going to be important. He had the big league ability to do it. Fortunately we kept him, and he's pitched well for us."

Said Buchholz: "Baseball is a confidence-driven game. If you're confident, you're a lot better than being not confident. I got some confidence moving in the right direction."

In July, assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister discovered that Buchholz's release point had dropped considerably over the past few seasons. Together with pitching coach Carl Willis, they worked to correct the mistake.

Another factor in Buchholz's turnaround: He began pitching exclusively from the stretch, even with no runners on base.

"Moving to the stretch, it simplified just about everything I do within the delivery, and I didn't have to think of anything," Buchholz said. "I've got a lot more comfortable doing that. That's probably the one thing that has pushed me forward."

The Red Sox don't have to submit their division series roster until 10 a.m. Thursday. They have decisions to make regarding the backup catcher (strong-armed Christian Vazquez appears to have an inside track on veterans Ryan Hanigan and Bryan Holaday because of the importance of controlling the Indians' running game) and the final spots in the bullpen. Left-hander Robby Scott has been sent to the Red Sox's training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, perhaps opening a spot for lefty Fernando Abad.

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