Buchholz lined up to make Minor League start Sunday

SEATTLE -- Clay Buchholz will likely take another step closer to returning to the Red Sox on Sunday by making a Minor League rehab start.

"Our tentative plan is to have him make a start on Sunday," manager John Farrell said, "but tomorrow's bullpen [session] will give us probably as accurate a read as we can make."

Because of inflammation in the bursa sac of his right shoulder, the All-Star hasn't pitched since June 8. Even so, Buchholz is 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA in 12 starts.

"I think the first time out we're probably going to have him in that 45-50 pitch range. That would be the target," Farrell said. "With that being the case, the next start is going to have to be a progressive start from there so we're not overtaxing the bullpen when he returns."

While he didn't want to put a set number on how many rehab starts Buchholz will have to make, Farrell said Buchholz will have at least two before returning to the Red Sox.