UPDATE: Dem Bones: Buchholz next start likely Tuesday

photo courtesy USATSI

Jan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer

Remember that old song “Dem Bones”?

Looks like that’s what might have Boston’s ace starter Clay Buchholz pushed back to June 18 for his next start.

Buchholz (9-0, 1.71 ERA) left Saturday’s game against the Angels because of neck tightness, and manager John Farrell said that if all went well in a bullpen session this coming Friday, Buchholz would go for his tenth win in the finale of the four-game road series against the Orioles on Sunday, but that scenario now appears unlikely after a setback Wednesday.

There’s a possibility that lefty Jon Lester could make the Sunday afternoon start on regular rest in Buchholz’s place if Buch isn’t deemed 100 per cent by himself or the staff before then, meaning the 28-year-old righty’s next outing would likely be one of the games in Tuesday’s scheduled twin bill against the Tampa Bay Rays.

UPDATE: On Wednesday afternoon, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald Tweeted that Buchholz felt "stiffness" when he tossed in Tampa Bay, meaning he may indeed be pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday by Red Sox staff.

On Sunday, Buchholz vowed not to return until he was completely up to snuff.

“I think it’s more of a day-by-day thing right now,” he said. “We’ll see how I feel the next couple of days … and then go from there. It’s going to be completely better whenever I come back. That’s my sole purpose right now, to come back without this happening again.”

In late May, Buchholz was scratched from a start against the Phillies after complaining of a sore AC joint in his right pitching shoulder. Buchholz, who apparently tweaked the shoulder while sleeping awkwardly, said the neck pain could well be related to that initial injury.

And as we all know when it comes to Dem Bones, the shoulder bone’s connected to the neck bone. 

“I’m sure there’s definitely something to go with both of (the injuries),” said Buchholz. “It might be it was getting weak because I was compensating for (the AC joint). As (Saturday’s) game went on, it wasn’t getting any better any quicker than it usually did. That’s why I came out when I did. There’s no need to risk anything.”

Twitter: @jan_doh