Fatigued Buchholz thinks he'll start Game 4

BOSTON -- Although John Farrell hasn't officially revealed the order of his starting pitchers for the first two World Series games in St. Louis, right-hander Clay Buchholz told reporters on Wednesday that he is being lined up for Game 4 on Sunday.

That means Jake Peavy would vault ahead of Buchholz and pitch Game 3 on Saturday. Air time is 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with first pitch slated for 8:07 p.m.

The reason for the switch is that Buchholz, who missed three months earlier this season with a right bursa sac strain, is dealing with shoulder fatigue.

"It's just a little dead [arm] at certain points," said Buchholz. "It's not a pinpoint straight point where you say, 'That's where it is.'"

The fatigue perhaps explains why Buchholz hasn't looked like himself in any of his three postseason starts, posting a 5.40 ERA and giving up a .284 opponents' batting average. Buchholz has a no-decision in all three of his starts.

Before Game 1 of the World Series, Farrell was asked if Buchholz had a health issue.

"Not to the point of keeping him out of starting," said Farrell.

The difference between Buchholz pitching Game 3 or 4 is considerable, considering the following: If he had started Game 3, he could have come back for Game 7.

By pitching Game 4, it means he's likely to start just once in the World Series.

"That's being factored in," said Farrell. "I mean, I have to stay conscious of that, given the last two starts when he's hit the wall, it's happened pretty quick. All that is being factored in."

Buchholz has started fairly strong in all three postseason starts, but by the middle innings, he's completely lost his rhythm.

The third time through the batting order, Buchholz has been hit at a .529 clip. From pitches 61-75, batters are hitting .264 against him. From pitches 76-90, he's given up six hits in nine at-bats.

Peavy turned in a strong performance against the Rays in Game 4 of the Division Series, giving up one run over 5 2/3 innings. But he struggled mightily against the Tigers in Game 4 of the ALCS, allowing five hits and seven runs over three-plus innings.