Red Sox Give Buchholz Nod For Game 3 Of ALDS

As the Boston Red Sox prepare for the start of their American League Division Series match up with the Cleveland Indians, they have reportedly made a somewhat surprising decision about who will follow Rick Porcello and David Price to start Game 3. 

According to a NESN report, Clay Buchholz, who was demoted to the bullpen earlier this season, will get the ball for Boston's only guaranteed postseason home game.

Buchholz, who struggled throughout the 2016 regular season, finished the campaign with an 8-10 record and a 4.78 ERA.

While those numbers aren't what you'd expect out of the starter of the third game of the postseason, His splits prove that he has seemed to get back on track the last couple of months. After posting an ERA no better than 4.82 through the first four months of the season and bouncing between the rotation and bullpen, the righty posted a 2.86 ERA in August and a 3.14 ERA in September working mostly as a starter.

Add the solid finish in with the uncertain health of knuckle baller Steven Wright, poor splits against right handed hitters for Eduardo Rodriguez and struggles for lefty Drew Pomeranz since joining the club via trade and Buchholz may just be the club's best option to take the mound.

Another thing working in Buchholz' favor is that he has prior postseason experience, although it hasn't been anything to write home about. In five postseason starts, Buchholz has pitched 25.2 innings and posted a 4.21 ERA. 

It will be interesting to see how this decision plays out for the Sox and if they in fact stick with the decision depending on how the first two games of the series go.

The series kicks off Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. in Cleveland.