Workman Gets The Nod As Sox Await News On Buchholz

Today Dr. James Andrews examined Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox await the news on his balky shoulder. Buchholz experiences tenderness every time he throws off a mound and is looking for reassurance from Andrews that working through the pain is OK to do.

Jul 14, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brandon Workman (67) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In his place, the Sox send Brandon Workman to the bump tonight against the red hot Tampa Bay Rays. How hot is Tampa Bay right now? They are the hottest team in Major League Baseball since June 23. They have won 19 of 23 games in that span and 17 of its last 19 after Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

In his first start with Boston Workman was impressive although taking the 3-2 loss to the Oakland As after he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning but allowed Josh Donaldson to hit a two-run home run in the seventh that knocked him out of the game.

Red Sox manager John Farrell told redsox.com, “As well as he pitched against a very good team in Oakland — and we’re going to have a team that’s coming in here as hot as anyone in the game right now — the one thing that he does is he throws a lot of strikes.”

One thing is for sure, Workman will have his work cut out for him tonight.