Walker Buehler’s Mysterious IL Stint Rocks Red Sox—What Is Alex Cora Really Hiding?

It’s frustrating when a team’s roster takes another blow – and the Boston Red Sox are feeling that pinch right now. Walker Buehler, one of their key starting pitchers, is heading to the 15-day injured list, leaving a gap in what’s already a sparse rotation. The 30-year-old was supposed to toe the rubber against the Minnesota Twins on Friday but got sidelined after returning early from a grueling series in Toronto to get some worrying tests done on his right shoulder. Manager Alex Cora’s been candid: Buehler just hasn’t shaken off the lingering issues since his last outing against the Cleveland Guardians, where he struggled through six innings and handed out too many hits and runs. Turns out, inflammation and bursitis have taken hold, but the silver lining here is that neither Cora nor the team’s top trainer are sounding any alarms about a severe injury. Fingers crossed, Buehler’s miss might be brief—potentially just two starts—before he’s back in the fold.

Buehler’s journey hasn’t been easy. After signing a lucrative one-year deal with Boston following a solid stint with the Dodgers, the right-hander battled through Tommy John surgery in 2022, marking his second such surgery. Although last season was rough, he displayed flashes of brilliance during the Dodgers’ World Series run—a testament to his resilience and skill.

Boston’s arms have had their share of headaches already, with Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito hitting the IL early but thankfully now back on the mound. For now, the rookie Hunter Dobbins, fresh from Triple-A, steps in to help fill the void. As the Red Sox trail the Yankees by two games in the fiercely competitive AL East, every rotation piece counts. Staying healthy and ready could make all the difference in this tight race.

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An already thin Boston Red Sox starting rotation will be without another arm with Walker Buehler going on the 15-day injured list.

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