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.

Buehler, 30, was scheduled to start Friday against the Minnesota Twins but was placed on the IL after returning to Boston ahead of the team, which finished a series in Toronto on Thursday, to undergo tests on his right shoulder.

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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Buehler “hasn’t bounced back the way we wanted” since his start last Saturday versus the Cleveland Guardians. In that game, he gave up three runs, seven hits and one walk in six innings. Buehler threw 87 pitches, 60 for strikes.

Tests revealed inflammation in Buehler’s right shoulder and he was placed on the IL with right shoulder bursitis. Buehler’s IL stint is retroactive to April 29, making him eligible to return May 14.

Cora told reporters neither he nor head athletic trainer Brandon Henry is worried that Buehler has suffered a serious injury.

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“Hopefully, it’s something where he misses two starts and he’s right back with us,” Cora said.

Buehler has made six starts for the Red Sox this season, compiling a 4.28 ERA and 4-1 record with 29 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings. He signed a one-year, $21.05 million free agent contract with Boston after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, the second such procedure of his career. Buehler returned last season, making 16 starts for the Dodgers with a 5.68 ERA in 75 1/3 innings. However, he was especially effective during the team’s World Series title run, registering a 3.68 ERA in four appearances (three starts), with 13 strikeouts in 15 innings.

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Boston began the season with Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito on the IL, but both have recently returned. Bello (2-0, 3.67 ERA) started Friday’s game in Buehler’s place. Taking Bello’s spot for Saturday will be Hunter Dobbins, just recalled from Triple-A Worcester. He compiled a 2.45 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11 innings and a 2-0 record in two starts for Boston.

The Red Sox went into Friday two games behind the New York Yankees for second place in the American League East.