RHP Clay Buchholz will start the rubber match of the three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday at Rogers Centre. He is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in his past four starts. He has a 1.42 ERA in his past three starts. He has not allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings in three appearances against the Blue Jays this season. In his one start this season against Toronto, he allowed six hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He is 14-9 with a 3.24 ERA in 31 career games, including 28 starts, against the Blue Jays. In 16 career games, including 15 starts, at Rogers Centre he is 11-3 with a 2.18 ERA.

RHPs David Buchanan and Vincent Velasquez and LHPs Adam Morgan and Brett Oberholtzer will compete to be the No. 5 starter behind RHPs Aaron Nola, Jeremy Hellickson, Charlie Morton and Jerad Eickhoff. Morgan, 25 and Buchanan, 26, split last season between the Phillies and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Buchanan was 2-9 with a 6.99 ERA in 15 starts for the Phillies and 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 10 starts for Lehigh Valley.

Buchanan allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over 6.2 innings Sunday against the Marlins. He struck out seven and walked one.

Buchanan finished the season on a high note. He had a 3.16 ERA and an 18:8 K:BB ratio in 25.2 innings over his last five starts. Overall, he finishes the year 2-9 with a 6.99 ERA and a 44:29 K:BB ratio in 74.2 innings. He won't be guaranteed a rotation spot next spring, so he will need to perform to avoid a trip back to Triple-A.

Buchanan gave up six hits, an earned run and two walks over 4.2 innings on Tuesday against the Mets. He struck out three but did not factor into the decision.

Although he was unable to make it out of the fifth inning, Buchanan kept the potent Mets offense at bay, with his one mistake resulting in a Lucas Duda fourth-inning solo shot. Despite the abbreviated outing, Buchanan has essentially made a 180-degree turnaround from a three-start stretch between late August and early September during which he did not resemble a major-league quality pitcher. In his last three trips to the hill, Buchanan has posted 11 strikeouts and a 1.78 ERA over 15.2 innings. Buchanan figures to have one more opportunity to build in his recent momentum when he takes the mound against the Marlins on the final day of the 2015 campaign Sunday.

Buchanan gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits in five innings against Miami on Wednesday. He struck out three and didn't factor into the decision.

Buchanan's now turned in consecutive non-terrible starts, which is more than we could have reasonably expected from a guy who even now has an atrocious 7.96 ERA. Even after he allowed just three earned runs in his last 11 innings, it's hard to recommend him in his last start or two of the year.

Buchanan (2-9) yielded five hits, two earned runs and two walks in a 4-0 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday. He struck out five.

Compared to previous three trips to the mound, Buchanan was more than serviceable but failed to receive any run support against a virtually unhittable Stephen Strasburg. The young right-hander had given up an incredible 31 hits and 22 earned runs over his previous nine innings after having turned in strong performances in seven of his eight starts prior. Although he gave up a gopher ball for the fifth consecutive start, Buchanan's five whiffs were a season best, and the 26-year-old does hold some promise after an encouraging rookie campaign in 2014 in which he mustered six victories and a 3.75 ERA over 29 starts.

Buchanan will remain in the rotation and make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Nationals, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Buchanan gave up four runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings in his last start. Interim manager Pete Mackanin indicated after that start that Buchanan's rotation spot was in jeopardy. He will face off against Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday.

Interim manager Pete Mackanin indicated Buchanan's rotation spot is at risk after his poor outing Wednesday, CSN Philadelphia reports. "We're going to reassess that and evaluate the whole thing," Mackanin said.

Buchanan allowed three runs on 10 hits with three walks over just 3.1 innings Wednesday. His ERA now sits at an unsightly 9.11 over 52.1 innings this season. The Phillies may decide to turn back to Jerome Williams to handle the sixth spot in their rotation.

Buchanan (2-8) was rocked for 10 hits, three walks and four runs over just 3.1 innings against Atlanta on Wednesday.

Frankly, it's a small miracle -- and a testament to the struggles of the Braves offense -- that Buchanan only allowed four runs while giving up 13 baserunners and getting 10 outs. These struggles are pretty typical of what Buchanan has offered this year, and it's hard to believe that the Phillies will let him take another turn in the rotation -- but then again, their options are limited.

Buchanan will start Wednesday's game for the Phillies, Jim Salisbury of CSN reports.

Buchanan has been downright dreadful in 10 starts for the Phillies earlier this season, posting a 9.00 ERA while conceding 75 hits over 49 innings. Over his last two starts alone - August 6 and 11 - Buchanan allowed 21 hits and 18 earned runs. As such, he makes for an excellent pitcher to stack against in daily formats.

Buchanan will be recalled in advance of Tuesday's game against the Braves, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Buchanan has struggled in 10 starts for the Phillies this season, posting a 9.00 ERA while allowing 75 hits over 49 innings. He's had much better results at the Triple-A level - 2.54 ERA, 12 starts - and it's now unclear whether he'll be used as a starter or reliever upon his return to Philadelphia.

Buchanan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

While Buchanan had moderate success at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he's been pounded in each of his two most recent starts, allowing at least seven in each and 11 on Tuesday. As a result, the 25-year-old will return to the minors and attempt to recover the form that led to a 3.16 ERA over six starts at Triple-A.

Buchanan was hammered Tuesday against Arizona, as he allowed 11 runs on 11 hits and two walks in just 1.2 innings. He struck out one.

Buchanan gave up all 11 runs in the second inning, with a pair of home runs accounting for five of them. His ERA is up to a clean 9.00 -- he's given 49 runs in exactly as many innings. It's clear he is a casualty if this disastrous Phillies season, and it's only a question of how many more starts he gets before the organization decides it has had enough.

Buchanan (2-6) struggled mightily Thursday against the Dodgers, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over four innings in a 10-8 loss.

Buchanan has a dreadful 7.23 ERA and his rotation spot could be in jeopardy if he continues to struggle. After allowing three runs or less in six of his last seven starts, this performance is a step back for the young righty. Buchanan is just too easy to hit right now as he has allowed 64 hits in 47.1 innings. He'll look to pitch better against the Diamnondbacks on Tuesday.

Buchanan allowed three runs on eight hits, he did not walk a batter, and struck out four over 7.1 innings of a 9-3 win against the Braves on Friday night.

Buchanan (2-5, 6.44 ERA) posted a quality start - something he had not had much success doing earlier in the season. He proved to be a reasonably competent starter last season, and will likely get an extended chance to see if he can get back to that level with Cole Hamels now in Texas.

Buchanan will start for the Phillies on Friday against the Braves, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

The Phillies decided to give Aaron Nola an extra day of rest between starts, so Buchanan will take the ball Friday night, a day ahead of what was originally expected. Buchanan started seven games for the Phillies earlier this season and did not experience much success, posting a 7.00 ERA and 19:18 K:BB ratio over 36 innings. He did post a 3.75 ERA in 20 starts with the big club last season, so the Phillies may give him a few starts with Cole Hamels on his way out of the rotation.

Interim manager Pete Mackanin said Buchanan was optioned to Triple-A so he can remain on a normal pitching schedule, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Phillies will temporarily move to a four-man rotation with two days off in the next week. It sounds like Buchanan could be back with the club by the end of the month.

Buchanan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following Monday's game, Stephen Gross of The Morning Call reports.

Despite earning the win with a solid effort Monday, Buchanan heads back to the minors. He's currently still slotted to start Sunday against the Cubs, so Buchanan may be recalled later in the week.

Buchanan earned the win Monday, allowing just three runs in 6.1 innings against the Rays.

The win was Buchanan's first in seven starts, but the 26 year old has been throwing better of late. Buchanan now has allowed four total runs in his two starts since rejoining the roster July 11, compared to the seven runs he served up in his previous major league start back in April. His next turn in the rotation will come this weekend against the Cubs.

Buchanan (0-5) allowed one run on eight hits over five innings in a no-decision against the Giants on Saturday.

Buchanan exited with a 4-1 lead, but the Phillies bullpen made sure he stayed winless on the season by promptly surrendering seven runs over the next two innings. The 26-year-old didn't issue a walk after giving up exactly three in each of his last three starts, and was rewarded for his efforts with his first no-decision of the season. Buchanan's three strikeouts actually raised his K/9 to 4.55, which is the exact same number as his BB/9. There just isn't much upside to a pitcher who's 0-5 with a 7.58 ERA in six starts, even if he did take a major step in the right direction Saturday.