Less than one year ago, 31-year-old righty Walker Buehler was on the mound at Yankee Stadium, striking out New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo to end the deciding Game Five of the World Series, nailing down the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first championship since 1988.
Buehler had started Game Three just two days earlier, and was pitching in relief for the first time in six years. In 2022 he underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career, his first coming in 2015, just a few weeks after the Dodgers made him the 24th overall pick in the MLB draft, out of Vanderbilt.
Signed as No. 2 Starter Behind Crochet
But with that World Series save, Buehler appeared to be back, regaining the dominance he showed in the first four full seasons of his career, from 2018 through 2021, when he posted ERA numbers below 3.00 twice, and never above 3.44.
Following the 2024 season, Buelher tested the free agent market where he landed a one-year contract for $21.05 million, plus incentive clauses from the Red Sox.
Behind another offseason acquisition, former Chicago White Sox lefty ace Garret Crochet, Buehler was seen as an anchor for the Boston starting rotation.
On Friday, according to a report by longtime Boston Globe Red Sox correspondent Peter Abraham, the Red Sox arrived at a decision to take Buehler out of the rotation completely.
A Frustrating Year For Buehler
The former Dodger had been a frustrating presence in the Boston rotation all season, with a 5.40 ERA â worst of any pitcher who started a game for the Red Sox, except for Tanner Houck (8.04) whose season ended early with an arm injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery.
With a 7-7 won-loss record, Buehler failed to finish five full innings nine times, 41 percent of his 22 starts. First innings plagued him. In those 22 starts, Buehler allowed 20 first-inning runs.
He was also prone to issuing free passes, walking 54 in his 110 innings as a starter, while allowing 118 hits for a WHIP of 1.55
Buehler Scratched From Monday Start
His latest start came on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles when Buehler allowed two runs on four hits and four walks in just four innings, in what ended as a 4-3 extra innings Red Sox loss.
On August 8, Buehler turned in his best start of the season, throwing six scoreless innings on the road against the San Diego Padres. But he failed to build on that solid performance, giving up six runs in 10 innings over his next two starts.
Buehler’s next start was set for Monday in Baltimore, but Manager Alex Cora announced Friday that Buehler will not make that start, joining the Boston bullpen.
2 Top Candidates to Take Spot in Rotation
Cora did not announce who would take Buehler’s place in the rotation, but the Red Sox have two candidates at the Triple-A level who appear to be candidates for the job. The No. 2 overall prospect in the Boston system, 6-foot-6, 250 pound left-hander Payton Tolle, a 2024 second-round pick, was scheduled to start Friday for Triple-A Worcester.
If Tolle makes that start, it would rule him out for a Monday assignment. But Kyle Harrison, acquired from the San Francisco Giants in June as part of the Rafael Devers trade, has posted a 3.69 ERA in 10 Worcester starts. Harrison was ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect in the game last year by MLB Pipeline.
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