BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz is convinced tonight's start against the Yankees won’t yield the same result as his most recent one against the Blue Jays.
His 2016 has had its fair share of twists and turns, to put it lightly.
After pitching his way out of the starting rotation, the 10-year veteran became a valued piece in the bullpen. When he got a chance to return to the starting rotation, he pounced on it.
In fact, in his three starts prior to Sunday’s loss, Buchholz had given up only three runs over 19 innings.
Then Sunday came and Buchholz gave up six runs in three innings to Toronto.
Naturally, questions arose with his performance. Part of it comes with the territory of wearing a Red Sox uniform, the rest is Buchholz’s own fault.
But this time, he fully expects to bounce back – unlike earlier in the season. And he boils that down to one thing more than anything else.
Boston Red Sox
“Confidence is always a big key,” Buchholz told CSN. “I felt good earlier this year -- as far as health-wise, I still feel really good."
What’s also helped the righty is his fastball. He’s used it much more frequently, ramping up to 94 mph often -- as opposed to occasionally touching 92 earlier in the season. More important, he’s got a better idea of exactly where it’s going.
“I feel better commanding my fastball right now than I did earlier,” Buchholz explained. “It was more I was throwing to the strike zone rather than to a spot in the strike zone. When you’re doing that, I don’t think anything’s going to end very well as a starting pitcher especially.”
Now, Buchholz is in a position very few expected he’d be in -- pitching against a divisional contender when Boston is right in the thick of the race, with a two-game lead in the A.L. East.
“You get more amped up for it, but you still know what you have to do,” Buchholz said. “You’ve still got to go out and pitch. Try to ride Porce [Rick Porcello] and DP [David Price] and let those two guys lead the way.”
With Steven Wright almost certainly out for the regular season - maybe even for the playoffs - Boston may need Buchholz to be the fourth starter in the postseason if the opportunity presents itself.
For all the flak he takes about his mental approach to the game, one thing that can’t be debated is how Buchholz has preserved through it all and actually contributed to the Red Sox being in first place.
That’s a fact.
Here’s an opinion, if Buchholz can get the job done tonight - five innings and three runs or six and four - then he becomes the fourth starter for the Red Sox down the stretch.
Nick Friar can be followed on Twitter: @ngfriar