Buchholz bullpen ‘extremely good’ as D-backs explore options in rotation
Jul 8, 2018, 3:05 PM | Updated: Jul 9, 2018, 8:59 am
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Clay Buchholz delivers against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
(AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Help could be on the way soon for the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching rotation.
On Sunday, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo relayed positive information on the rehab of starting pitcher Clay Buchholz, who hopes to return soon from an oblique injury that put him on the 10-day DL on June 27.
“Clay Buchholz yesterday was throwing his bullpen,” Lovullo said. “He came out of it extremely good.”
Buchholz was stellar in his seven games with the D-backs this season, posting a 2.56 ERA and 0.96 WHIP to go along with his 2-1 record.
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“Everything from what I heard went really, really well. He will throw another bullpen on Tuesday. Once he gets through the bullpen on Tuesday, we will come up with a good game plan. Does it mean a rehab start? We’re discussing that right now. We don’t exactly know what the next steps are, but everything is in a very good spot right now,” Lovullo said.
The D-backs are keeping all options open to fill the role of fifth starter in their rotation, which is currently manned by Shelby Miller, who is three starts in to his return from Tommy John surgery.
According to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, a D-backs executive was in attendance at the Detroit Tigers-Texas Rangers game on Sunday. The game featured pitcher Michael Fulmer of the Tigers, who took a loss but gave up five hits and two earned runs in seven innings.
The Tigers sit 12 games under .500 and are in line to become sellers at the trade deadline coming up July 31.
