Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox Series Preview

The Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds will square off on Tuesday for just the third time since battling on the national stage in the epic 1975 World Series. The Reds will visit Fenway Park for the first time since 2005 as they take on the defending champions for a quick midweek two-game series.

Homer Bailey (2-2) of the Reds will oppose the Red Sox’s Felix Doubront (1-3) in the series-opener. Bailey is fresh off his finest pitching performance of the season, hurling eight innings with just three runs allowed in a victory over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Faltering in each of his past three starts, Doubront has yet to make it through seven innings in 2014. The left-hander has been unable to record a victory since earning a win in his first start of the year.

The Red Sox do not have much experience against Bailey. The only players with more than two career at-bats against Bailey are Grady Sizemore (2-for-10) and Shane Victorino (4-for-11, HR).

Jake Peavy will look for some run support when he takes the mound for the series-finale. Peavy has been an imposing force in the Red Sox’s rotation, posting a 2.87 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings pitched. Peavy’s pedestrian 1-1 record does not reflect the season the right-hander has had thus far.

On the opposite side, Mike Leake, who knows what it feels like to be a hard-luck loser, will take the hill for the Reds. Leake (2-3) is coming off a dominant start in which he surrendered just two runs in eight innings, yet was hooked for the loss in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Brewers.

Receiving positive news on the injury front was Red Sox relief pitcher Edward Mujica, who dealt with discomfort in his right oblique as he warmed up in the bullpen in Saturday’s contest versus the Oakland A’s. Mujica will avoid a trip to the disabled list, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell.

“This isn't a DL situation as a result of the exam this morning," Farrell said, via MetroWest Daily News. "Likely unavailable today. Give him today and tomorrow ... to continue to receive treatment and see where we are when we open up against Cincinnati (on Tuesday)."

The Red Sox and Reds will both get a day off on Thursday, before each squad hits the road for its respective weekend series. These two clubs will meet again this year in Cincinnati for a two-game series on Aug. 12-13.

Clay Buchholz unperturbed by designation as No. 5 starter; All-Star aims to stay healthy throughout season

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell divulged his plans for the order of the starting rotation on Monday. Jon Lester is slated to be the ace of the pitching staff, followed by John Lackey, Felix Doubront, Jake Peavy and (finally) Clay Buchholz.

            Lester was the most consistent pitcher for the Red Sox during the regular season and the playoffs in 2013. Therefore, the southpaw deserves to spearhead the rotation and make his fourth consecutive Opening Day start.

            Farrell’s decision to tab Buchholz as the fifth starter was the most noteworthy, given the right-hander’s incredulous 1.74 ERA last season. The challenge for Buchholz was staying healthy as the 29-year-old started just 16 games last season.

Clay Buchholz looks to avoid the injury bug in 2014: Michael Ivins/ Getty Images

            Buchholz was not bothered by his placement in the rotation.

            "My first or second year in the big leagues my job was to be the fourth or fifth starter," Buchholz told MassLive.com reporter Jason Mastrodonato. “And there was a span during the season when four or five games in a row I faced (CC Sabathia, Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke), so it doesn't matter where you start."

            Staying healthy is the focus for Buchholz, who could care less about his positioning in the pitching rotation. His inability to stay on the field has led to criticism towards the 2013 All-Star by the media, including Boston.com’s Eric Wilbur. In his most recent column regarding Buchholz, he wrote:

            "In 2014, he’s already been tabbed Boston’s fifth starter, a status not indicative of his talent, but his penchant to either break down or refuse to pitch at anything less than 100 percent."

            Wilbur goes on to characterize Buchholz as a fragile player that has only shown flickers of his true skill.

            "But having to slot Buchholz there not only speaks to his brittle nature, but his dependability. Other than his 17-7 campaign of 2010, expectations for Buchholz have annually been disappointing despite flashes of brilliance."

            The injury that hampered Buchholz for over two months last season was certainly mysterious. He stayed on the disabled list from the end of May until the beginning of September with a sore neck, apparently caused from holding his sleeping child in his arms in a very uncomfortable position.

            Buchholz did not endear as much as scrutiny as one would expect a pitcher to have to deal with in a media and sports crazed city like Boston, mainly because of how well the Sox played throughout the entire year. Buchholz returned to the rotation for the playoffs, and while he was not the dominant pitcher he was in the regular season, he helped the franchise earn its eighth World Series championship. Now, Buchholz is ready for 2014 and is concentrating on remaining healthy all season.

            "I would've loved to pitch all the through (2013) but it didn't happen," Buchholz said via MassLive.com. "So I have to try to find a way to do it this year."