Adam Jones Show: The Herald's Scott Lauber On Buchholz' Timetable
BOSTON (CBS) - Clay Buchholz is progressing towards rejoining the Red Sox, tossing a simulated game in San Francisco on Tuesday.
The Sox starter will next throw off a mound on Friday, and manager John Farrell said his ace could pitch in a minor league rehab game as early as Sunday.
The Boston Herald's Scott Lauber joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's The Adam Jones Show from San Fran on Tuesday night, and says if all goes well, Buchholz could be back in the Boston rotation around Labor Day.
"He would probably need at least three minor league rehab starts. The minor league season ends Labor Day weekend, so they're looking at a couple week window to get him back," said Lauber. "They're hoping by then he'll have stretched his arm out to the point where he can pitch in a game without a pitch restriction. That first (minor league) start will be around 45 pitches, and they'll build him up from there."
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If Buchholz isn't stretched out enough by the time, the Red Sox could use him out of the bullpen when rosters expand on September 1. But he also warned that with such a short window, any setback would likely mean Buchholz is done for the year.
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Lauber also talked about Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts, who made his Major League debut last night, and how much we can expect to see of the phenom for the rest of the season.
