After 23 days on the injured list with shoulder bursitis, the Boston Red Sox have activated Walker Buehler for his May 20 start against the Mets.
Buehler has logged a 4.28 ERA with 19 strikeouts and nine walks in 33.2 innings so far. His ERA has steadily ticked down from his second start when he let up five runs to the Cardinals over five innings. He's clocked a 3.68 ERA over five starts in April before the Red Sox transferred him to the IL on April 29.
Reliever Nick Burdi is the roster casualty for Buehler's activation. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that the 32-year-old has cleaned out his locker in preparation for Buehler's activation. The move has not yet been made official by the team.
Burdi signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox before the 2024 season and caught eyes with his success in Worcester. He pitched to a 0.54 ERA with 25 strikeouts and five walks over 16.2 innings. Boston selected Burdi's contract on May 16 and he made two scoreless appearances against the Braves while they were in town.
Red Sox reinstate Walker Buehler to start on May 20 against Mets, option hot reliever Nick Burdi
Burdi has appeared in parts of six big league seasons in his career. In 2024, he posted a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings with the Yankees, but was quickly sent to the 60-day IL with hip inflammation. After he returned, he logged a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Red Sox could've used Burdi's 0.00 ERA in the bullpen a bit longer, but the Sox didn't have any easier roster moves for Buehler's activation. Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert both have minor league options, but they've played critical roles in Boston's bullpen early on. Hunter Dobbins has also already been optioned this year, but he's been the most valuable depth starter the Sox have used this year, with a 3.62 ERA over 32.1 innings across six starts.
Burdi's tenure with the Red Sox organization was a productive one and he may find another team to play for this year after the success he's had. Boston needs Buehler to stabilize the rotation as one of the veterans on the staff, and hopefully, he can do so against the Mets, who he held scoreless when he last faced them in the NLCS.