Buchholz Named Red Sox Opening Day Starter
BOSTON (CBS) -- Clay Buchholz will make the first Opening Day start of his career when the Boston Red Sox open their 2015 season against the Philadelphia Phillies next week.
Boston manager John Farrell named Buchholz his Opening Day starting over the weekend, praising the nine-year veteran for his work this spring.
"He came into camp in a good place, both mentally and physically," Farrell told reporters on Sunday. "The line score last time out to me doesn't reflect the way the ball came out of his hand. Now, line scores are important. I get it. But he feels good physically. He's confident. We've seen when Clay has been in that place, he's one of the better pitchers in baseball."
Buchholz has gone 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA over his four spring starts, striking out 18 while walking just three over 15 innings of work. He struggled his last time out, allowing 12 hits and four runs over five innings on Friday against the Atalanta Braves.
Following Buchholz in the Boston rotation will be newly acquired righty Rick Porcello, who will get the start in the second game of the season on Wednesday. Either Justin Masteron or Wide Miley will get the ball when Boston closes out their opening series in Philadelphia.