The Boston Red Sox signed Walker Buehler ahead of the 2025 season, hoping that he'd be able to rebound from his second UCL reconstruction surgery. Halfway through the season, he's shown no signs of his former self.
Buehler has pitched to a 6.45 ERA in 67 innings across 14 starts. He's logged 59 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a fair few horrendous outings in that time. The Yankees rocked the righty on June 6 for five runs in two innings, and two starts later, the Mariners racked up eight runs in 3.1 innings against him. Buehler logged an 11.07 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 17 walks over five starts in June.
Still, the Red Sox will keep him in their rotation. Manager Alex Cora spoke after Buehler's latest loss to the Blue Jays and reiterated his confidence that he can right the ship.
“He’s scheduled to make his next [start],“ Cora said on June 29, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. ”He’s healthy, eager to work and like I said yesterday, he feels like he’s getting close to finding it.”
Walker Buehler will make next Red Sox start as scheduled, but it could be the last straw
If you hear any noise, it's just us and the boys bopping 💥 #PLAKATA pic.twitter.com/UJ24hetlNr
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 29, 2025
Buehler's next outing will come against the Nationals, the last-place team in the National League East. The winnable matchup could present the perfect opportunity for Buehler to get back on track, but Boston's track record in "winnable" matchups suggests that still isn't the safest bet — the Red Sox have been swept by the Angels and lost a series to the White Sox, among some other rough losses.
If the Red Sox are serious about hunting for a playoff spot, keeping Buehler in their rotation may not be a risk they can take. Boston's offense has been unreliable, to say the least, since the Rafael Devers trade (although some hitters, like Roman Anthony, are starting to heat up) and it often can't dig itself out of the holes the rotation's rough performances have caused.
If Buehler can't set himself right against the Nationals, the Red Sox may have to consider moving him from the rotation. They don't have many replacement options now with Tanner Houck and Hunter Dobbins on the injured list and Kutter Crawford out for the rest of the season after he underwent wrist surgery. Boston just traded for young starter Kyle Harrison, however, and rehabbing lefty Patrick Sandoval may be able to pitch at some point in the second half, but updates on his progress have been few and far between.
The Red Sox and their fans would love to see Buehler find his early 2020s self again, or even his performance from April when he posted a 3.68 ERA over five starts. An improved Buehler would go a long way in Boston's already otherwise inconsistent rotation, and if he can't even out before the second half, the Red Sox should seriously consider moving him to the bullpen.