Buchholz Has Shoulder Inflammation, Shut Down Until The Weekend

The Clay Buchholz 2013 story is now becoming epic. It’s a story of both triumph and adversity and the beat goes on.

Jun 10, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

After an aborted bullpen and mound session yesterday, Buchholz had an MRI that revealed inflammation in his throwing shoulder. The inflammation is in addition to a strained trapezius. Buchholz hasn’t pitched since June 8.

“He’s in a couple-of-day shutdown period,” manager John Farrell told mlb.com’s Michael Periatt. “We’re hopeful that he’ll initiate a throwing program likely on the weekend. He underwent the MRI yesterday, which didn’t show any structural issues. He’s got some inflammation in the bursa sac area, so structurally everything is good and I think that’s the most encouraging thing at this point.”

Today Boston hit the 2013 halfway mark. If they are to compete and win down the stretch they’ll need Buchholz back to the form that still places him atop major league pitchers with a 1.71 ERA.

Buchholz had to stop his bullpen session on Wednesday after roughly 15. “It’s just not quite there yet,” Buchholz said. “Playing long toss, playing catch it feels fine. It’s just that incline right now. It’s not something that’s a terrible feeling, it’s just I want it to be gone. I don’t feel like pitching, going out some starts and then having it flare up again.”