BOSTON — After struggling again Sunday — and watching his ERA rise to 6.45 in 14 starts so far this season — Red Sox starter Walker Buehler said he felt like he was fighting for his spot in the big leagues. He’ll keep that spot at least for another few days.
Boston still plans to have Buehler make his next start, as scheduled, Saturday against the Nationals in Washington, D.C., according to manager Alex Cora. 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.
“He’s scheduled to make his next one,“ Cora said. ”He’s healthy, eager to work and like I said yesterday, he feels like he’s getting close to finding it.”
Since returning from the injured list May 20 after battling bursitis in his throwing shoulder, Buehler has struggled mightily. All told, he has an 8.64 ERA in his last eight outings, allowing 32 earned runs and 42 hits while walking 23 batters in 33 ⅓ innings. He was hit hard in a two-inning outing against the Yankees on June 6, then after going seven strong innings against Tampa Bay on June 11, has imploded. Buehler has failed to get past the fourth inning in his last three outings and has been tagged for 17 earned runs in 11 ⅓ frames.
On Sunday, after issuing a career-high seven walks against the Angels in his previous outing, Buehler allowed two homers and issued three more walks. Things unraveled fast in Buehler’s fourth and final inning.
“I don’t think it’s mechanics,” Cora said. “He talked about his arm angle, differently than in the past. Yeah, it should be different a little bit because of everything he has been going through. But I think they’re doing a good job trying to clean that up and yesterday for 2 ½ innings, we saw the guy we envisioned.
“I think his stuff is still good. We just have to finish. With two strikes, we cannot walk guys, especially the eighth or ninth hitter.
“We’re on the same page. We are close. We’ve seen glimpses the last two starts.”
The Red Sox signed Buehler hoping he would emerge as a No. 2 option behind ace Garrett Crochet and guaranteed him $21.05 million on a one-year deal. Apart from a strong four-start stretch in April (2.59 ERA) before hitting the IL, it has been a season of struggles. Buehler’s ERA is the highest of any American League pitcher who has thrown more than 50 innings this year (and third-highest in the majors).
With Kutter Crawford out for the year, Tanner Houck and Hunter Dobbins both on the injured list and Patrick Sandoval not close to returning as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery, the Red Sox are a bit light on pitching depth. Richard Fitts is already part of a group that includes Crochet, Buehler, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello; newcomer Kyle Harrison, Houck and Dobbins could soon be in the mix, though, as potential Buehler replacements.
For now, though, the work continues ahead of what could be a make-or-break start against a poor Nationals team this weekend.
“We’re going to keep working. We’re not gonna give up,” Cora said. “This guy means a lot to us. We made a huge commitment in the offseason and he bet on himself. Right now, it doesn’t look like it’s happening but I truly believe it will happen.
“He wants to be better. The guy is a good pitcher. The back of the baseball card is there. We just have to make sure things don’t speed up on us.”
