Article: Walker Buehler's Last Stand with the Red Sox is Here

[Jordan Leandre]

Entering his start against the San Diego Padres, right-hander Walker Buehler’s tumultuous Boston Red Sox career appears to be closer to the end than its beginning.

In 19 starts, the two-time World Series champion has a 5.74 ERA with less than five innings per start on average in 2025. Since returning from the injured list on May 20, he’s posted a 6.56 ERA across 13 starts. Every once in a while, there’s a glimmer of hope for the 31-year-old, who had a three-start stretch against Washington, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia in which his ERA was 3.00 with two quality starts. However, those stretches are often preceded and succeeded by several outings of rocky command, loud contact and, most importantly, no length.

Part of the appeal of Buehler last winter was the presumption that once he got to October, the switch would flip and he’d provide quality outings for a Red Sox team hungry to make a World Series run. While Buehler set the precedent last year that he’s more than capable of elevating after a down year, it’s no mystery that he’s fallen off from what was a rocky 2024 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His strikeouts are down, quality of contact is worse, command is worse, velocity is worse; the list goes on. Given that the Red Sox are in a position to contend this year, and Buehler is receiving $500,000 every other start from here on in, those struggles are exaggerated. It starts—or, perhaps, ends—Friday against the Padres. This is his 20th start of the season, giving him his first bonus of $500,000. Ironically, this setting is exactly where the turnaround took place for Buehler last October. After getting torched for six runs in the second inning of his NLDS start, he followed up with three scoreless to finish that outing before firing four scoreless against the New York Mets and then six innings against the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Buehler doesn't need a metaphorical wake-up call—he knows how much he’s struggled this year. However, perhaps the reminder that this is where the turnaround happened less than a year ago, combined with the fact these two teams are both hungry to win their respective divisions, gives him a shot of adrenaline he can channel into a successful outing. After all, he did dazzle in his last road start against the Phillies, where he showcased a new windup before dazzling for seven innings of one(earned)-run ball.

It won't be easy to replicate that. The Padres don't whiff at all -- second-lowest whiff rate in baseball -- and Buehler already struggles to get them in general. They're also eighth in the league in expected batting average against fastballs 95 miles per hour and slower, which accounts for 584 of Buehler's 607 fastballs since coming off the IL in May.

At this stage of the game, getting quality out of everybody is massive. That said, getting quality out of a guy like Buehler is everything to this pitching staff, and a turnaround for him would mean arguably more to the rotation than shortstop Trevor Story’s did for the lineup.

View full article

[vegasbob]

If Buehler falters badly again, he will still be around waiting a turn simply because there is almost no choice, and Dustin May is no serious answer.  

If there is to be any help then Criswell and Fitts will need to come back up and pitch in a tight pennant race.

The lack of a decisive and expensive move at the TDL will come to be costly  as August winds into September .

The pitching injuries have probably cost the Sox about 50% of the talent   Cora/Bailey expected to have available both starting and RP's

[moonslav59]

I've been asking how short Buehler's leash is for several weeks. He has rarely pitched well enough in a game to think he's lengthened the leash.

I feel like I'm done with expecting another start from him, but he does have a pretty good history of being a damn good pitcher, so it's hard to let go of the chance he can pitch like last October for us.

If we didn't have Criswell, who just pitched a nice game, last time out and Harrison, who seems to have pitched well enough, recently in AAA to get another chance in the bigs, I'd say ride it out with Buehler, but maybe those two guys should start, soon.

I will say, I'd rather have Buehler pitch than May, so the thread should be about May.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I've been asking how short Buehler's leash is for several weeks. He has rarely pitched well enough in a game to think he's lengthened the leash.

I feel like I'm done with expecting another start from him, but he does have a pretty good history of being a damn good pitcher, so it's hard to let go of the chance he can pitch like last October for us.

If we didn't have Criswell, who just pitched a nice game, last time out and Harrison, who seems to have pitched well enough, recently in AAA to get another chance in the bigs, I'd say ride it out with Buehler, but maybe those two guys should start, soon.

I will say, I'd rather have Buehler pitch than May, so the thread should be about May.

A choice between Buehler and May? Now that's a real Sophie's Choice.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

A choice between Buehler and May? Now that's a real Sophie's Choice.

Well, I assume if we give Criswell or Harrison a start, we'll have to bench one, first. (Maybe the other on the next scheduled start, but I'm pretty sure May gets another look or two (or three.)

[Bellhorn04]

Well, he came through last night in a big spot.  Still keeping my fingers crossed that he's going to help us the rest of the way.  He's got the pedigree and the competitive fire.  His arm may not be what it used to be, but that's where you need your pitching coach to get the best out of him, and I think we have a damn good pitching coach.

[cp176]

48 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Well, he came through last night in a big spot.  Still keeping my fingers crossed that he's going to help us the rest of the way.  He's got the pedigree and the competitive fire.  His arm may not be what it used to be, but that's where you need your pitching coach to get the best out of him, and I think we have a damn good pitching coach.

Got to kind of keep the faith don’t you!  It was a great performance by him last night.  Actually a great performance by all of them.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Well, he came through last night in a big spot.  Still keeping my fingers crossed that he's going to help us the rest of the way.  He's got the pedigree and the competitive fire.  His arm may not be what it used to be, but that's where you need your pitching coach to get the best out of him, and I think we have a damn good pitching coach.

Buehler can be up and down inconsistent the rest of the way, but he's still a guy you give the ball to in a postseason start. He's proven, battle-tested, and pitching for another contract.

He's not Schilling pitching on one leg, but he won't back down, nor never make excuses. Jack Nicholson told Tom Cruise in court you want him on that wall.

[moonslav59]

The leash remains tight, but he lives another day (or two.) 

This dog will not be let loose.

[notin]

On 8/9/2025 at 11:23 AM, moonslav59 said:

The leash remains tight, but he lives another day (or two.) 

This dog will not be let loose.

Is his leash anywhere near as tight with the Sox as it is on Internet forums?

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, notin said:

Is his leash anywhere near as tight with the Sox as it is on Internet forums?

Cut the leash on Toro loose.

[mvp 78]

17 hours ago, notin said:

Is his leash anywhere near as tight with the Sox as it is on Internet forums?

YES! He has games started incentives in his contract.

Games Started
$500,000 each for 20, 22, 24, 26, 28