Starting pitching is at the top of the Boston Red Sox's offseason must-add list. An unexpected free agent hurler may have just pitched his way into higher standing.
Walker Buehler on Oct. 28 posted an outstanding start in Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old clocked five scoreless, two-hit innings with five strikeouts and two walks. LA's bullpen continued Buehler's stellar night and kept New York off the board until the ninth inning to secure a 3-0 series lead.
"I think, if you take out that second inning where we didn't play good defense behind him, he would've thrown nothing but zeroes in the postseason. Tonight, I thought his stuff was just as good as it's been all year," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
The righty's shutout performance brought his postseason ERA to 3.86 over 14 innings across three appearances, but his numbers are inflated from his first outing, which was rough. On Oct. 8, Buehler allowed six runs to the Padres over five innings, but his two appearances since have been scoreless.
Walker Buehler's World Series Game 3 start should put him on Red Sox's offseason free agency radar
"[Walker Buehler] had it all working for him. Just calm and poised and really going at it."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 29, 2024
Harold breaks down Buehler's lights-out start in Game 3 to give the @Dodgers a 3-0 #WorldSeries lead. pic.twitter.com/SVFpOIz8PD
Buehler's regular seasons have been less consistent than the aces available this winter, like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried, but he'd still be a solid later-rotation choice for Boston. He pitched to a 5.38 ERA over 75.1 innings in 2024 after he missed the entire 2023 slate due to elbow surgery. His 2024 ERA is the second-highest of his career — he's posted a 3.27 ERA over 713.2 across his seven years of MLB service time.
In his start against the Yankees, Buehler met the moment and flashed some of his best work while all of MLB watched. His 2024 season and injury history may have decreased his value in free agency, but every ownership group looking to sign a starting pitcher had Buehler put back on their radar.
Nick Pivetta will most likely leave the Red Sox as a free agent this winter and Garrett Whitlock will still need time to recover from his 2024 Tommy John surgery after the season has started. Buehler could be a suitable No. 3 or 4 option, but Boston would still need an ace.