Red Sox Make Walker Buehler Rotation Decision, Report Says

The Boston Red Sox are ready to run it back with right-hander Walker Buehler, at least for the time being.

Manager Alex Cora decided Buehler will make his next scheduled start, according to Masslive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

“Boston still plans to have Buehler make his next start, as scheduled, Saturday against the Nationals in Washington, D.C.,” Cotillo wrote Sunday evening. “For now, the club is staying the course with the struggling righty instead of moving him to the bullpen, moving him to the injured list or removing him from the roster.”

The two-time All-Star lost again on Sunday, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks in four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s now 5-6 with a 6.45 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP, resulting in a career-low -1.3 WAR.

Buehler has failed to get past the fourth inning in his last three outings and has been tagged for 17 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings pitched.

“He’s scheduled to make his next one,“ Cora said Sunday, per Cotillo. ”He’s healthy, eager to work and like I said yesterday, he feels like he’s getting close to finding it.”

When asked Sunday whether he’s fighting to keep his spot in the Red Sox rotation, Buehler said, “I think I’m fighting for my spot in the game honestly. I think at some point, throwing the way that I’ve thrown, there’s not a lot of places for seven ERA starting pitchers in the big leagues.”

The Red Sox signed Buehler, 30, to a one-year, $21.05 million contract last December. His deal includes a mutual $25 million option for 2026 with a $3 million buyout, according to Spotrac. Based on his performance in Boston, it’s probably a safe bet that Buehler will be back on the market this winter.