Boston Red Sox’s Clay Buchholz to pitch off mound Tuesday, eyes “late August” return

Clay Buchholz is on his way to returning to the Boston Red Sox, finally beginning the next step of throwing off the mound with a rehab assignment on the horizon.

Pete Abraham, beat writer for the Red Sox at the Boston Globe, confirms the news on Twitter. Rotoworld gives us further explanation on Buchholz’s return to the mound but there isn’t a date set yet for a rehab assignment.

"It will be the first time he’s been on the bump since July 14. Buchholz was cleared to throw off a mound after getting through a flat-ground session Sunday at “about 80 percent intensity.” There’s no timetable for when the righty will begin a rehab assignment, but the Red Sox aren’t counting on him before late August, at the earliest."

Buchholz has been on the disabled list since June 9th. Despite missing his undefeated 9-0 record and 1.71 ERA, the Red Sox still hold the best record in Major League Baseball going into Monday night’s games and having him back in the rotation for the postseason would make this team even deadlier.

Of course, it’s cautious optimism. Today, Abraham told CBS Boston that Buchholz has been ready to play in a minor league game “at least twice” before facing setbacks.

"“At this point he hasn’t even pitched out of the bullpen. So until he gets to the mound and pitches in a game, you can’t get too excited for when he might pitch for the Red Sox. We’re at a point now where if everything goes perfectly, you’re still not seeing him until September.”"