Skip to main content

Red Sox place pitcher Clay Buchholz on DL

Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is on the DL with an injured neck. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is set to return to the team's rotation next week. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The Boston Red Sox placed right-handed pitcher Clay Buchholz on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 9, with a strained neck, the team announced.

Buchholz was able to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, but will not make his scheduled start on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers.

"He's not at a point physically where he feels like he can get on the mound tomorrow without the potential of setback and not irritate the trapezius muscle," Red Sox manager John Farrell said yesterday. "The AC joint has cleared up. There's nothing there. It's more the trapezius muscle up in the neck that is restricting him from greater intensity. The bottom line is ... we're not going to put him out there without making sure he's in a safe place physically."

LEMIRE: Red Sox 2nd in latest SI.com Power Rankings

Buchholz last started on June 8 against the Los Angeles Angels and has made just two starts since May 22. Buchholz is 9-0 with MLB-leading 1.71 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 84.1 innings for the Red Sox this season, who have a 2.5 game lead in the American League East over the Baltimore Orioles.