Red Sox activate Clay Buchholz from 60-day disabled list

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today activated right-hander Clay Buchholz from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Jose De La Torre was designated for assignment. Buchholz is scheduled to start tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Buchholz, 29, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 18 (retroactive to June 9) with a neck strain and was transferred to the 60-day DL on August 19. In three rehab starts, including two with Triple-A Pawtucket and one with Short-A Lowell, he combined to allow four earned runs (six runs total) in 7.2 innings for a 4.70 ERA. He last pitched Thursday night for the PawSox in game two of the International League Governors' Cup Semifinals at the Twins' Rochester affiliate, allowing two runs in 3.2 innings with five strikeouts. Buchholz is 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA (16 ER/84.1 IP), 81 strikeouts, 29 walks, and 57 hits allowed in 12 starts for Boston this season, his second career All-Star campaign. Following his last start on June 8, Buchholz was the major league leader in wins (tied), ERA, opponent slugging percentage (.270), and opponent OPS (.535). The Red Sox have an 11-1 record in his starts in 2013.

De La Torre, 27, appeared in seven games for the Red Sox this year, all in relief, in his first career major league action. He had no record with a 6.35 ERA (8 ER/11.1 IP), 10 walks, and 15 strikeouts for Boston. In 34 regular season games for Pawtucket this season, he went 5-1 with one save, a 2.75 ERA (16 ER/52.1 IP), 27 walks, and 59 strikeouts. He also posted a 3.86 ERA (2 ER/4.2 IP) in two playoff games for the PawSox.

With today's transaction, Boston's active major league roster is now at 33 players.