Clay Buchholz finished his up-and-down 2016 season on a high note, and he’ll get the chance to continue that success into the postseason.
Buchholz has been named the Boston Red Sox’s Game 3 starter in their American League Division Series matchup against the Cleveland Indians, per ESPN’s Scott Lauber. That contest will be played at Fenway Park on Sunday, as the Indians will host Games 1 and 2.
Buchholz hit some rough patches this season that included several trips to the bullpen. But he earned a spot in the rotation in September and delivered down the stretch, allowing two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.
The veteran right-hander getting Game 3 means left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, the third man in Boston’s rotation at the end of the season, likely will pitch Game 4 against the Indians, if necessary.
Cleveland already has announced its ALDS rotation, so here are the projected pitching matchups for all five games:
Game 1 at Cleveland: Rick Porcello, RHP vs. Trevor Bauer, RHP
Game 2 at Cleveland: David Price, LHP vs. Corey Kluber, RHP
Game 3 at Boston: Clay Buchholz, RHP vs. Josh Tomlin, RHP
Game 4 at Boston (if necessary): Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP vs. Bauer
Game 5 at Cleveland (if necessary): Porcello vs. Kluber
Click for the Red Sox-Indians ALDS playoff schedule >>
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images