Clay Buchholz has had an up-and-down season, but he has the chance to deliver big-time for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
The veteran right-hander is back in the Red Sox’s rotation and will get the start at Rogers Centre for a very important series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays tied the series at one game apiece Saturday, but the Red Sox can take the three-game set and a two-game lead in the American League East with a victory Sunday.
Buchholz pitched well in his return to the rotation last Tuesday, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings against the San Diego Padres while filling in for the injured Steven Wright. He also has had success in Toronto, boasting an 11-3 record with a 2.18 ERA in 16 career outings at Rogers Centre.
Sandy Leon is back in the lineup catching Buchholz and will bat eighth, while center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. slides down to the No. 9 hole, where he has a .353 batting average in 34 games this season.
Travis Shaw and Brock Holt also return to action, with Shaw starting at third base and batting sixth and Holt playing left field and batting seventh.
Here are the full lineups for Sunday’s series finale:
RED SOX (79-62)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Brock Holt, LF
Sandy Leon, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Clay Buchholz, RHP (6-10, 4.99 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (78-63)
Devon Travis, DH
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Jose Bautista, RF
Russell Martin, C
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Michael Saunders, LF
Kevin Pillar, CF
Ryan Goins, 2B
Aaron Sanchez, RHP (13-2, 2.92 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images