It's a meaningless game in the standings between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees to close out their respective seasons, but it's one of the most important starts of Clay Buchholz's eight-year career so far.
The right-hander has the honor of taking the mound against his childhood idol Derek Jeter one last time, as the Yankees Captain plays the final game of his 20-year career Sunday at Fenway Park.
“It’s a lot going on,” Buchholz told the Providence Journal. “Obviously knowing who he is and what he’s done goes into it. That’s somebody I sort of idolized growing up watching him play with the Yankees and all the World Series. I’m sure it might be a little emotional for him, and I’ll just try to have fun with it.
“It’s not just another game, but I’ll try to treat it as close to that as possible.”
Buchholz spoke earlier in the month about wanting to be the last pitcher to throw to Jeter. Despite being granted his wish, though, the two-time All-Star acknowledged he wouldn't groove one down the plate for the future Hall-of-Famer.
“He’s got too many hits off me already.”
