Walker Buehler\u2019s first season with the Boston Red Sox hasn\u2019t gone according to plan.<\/p>\n
Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05 million deal with the Red Sox last December, just two months after getting the final out of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. While he\u2019d struggled during the 2024 regular season (1-6, 5.38 ERA) in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, both sides were hopeful he could rebound in 2025 after his strong postseason (1-1, 3.60 ERA).<\/p>\n
However, Buehler\u2019s performance has not improved. In some respects, it\u2019s only gotten worse<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s now 5-6 with a 6.45 ERA, a 6.03 FIP and a 1.58 WHIP, resulting in a career-low -1.3 WAR.<\/p>\n Buehler hasn\u2019t been able to find his groove this year, and he hasn\u2019t shied away from addressing his struggles with the media<\/a>. He gave another honest assessment of his slump<\/a> following Sunday\u2019s 5-3 loss at Fenway Park.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Asked postgame if he feels as if he’s fighting for his spot in the Red Sox rotation, Walker Buehler offered a very candid response. pic.twitter.com\/OJd7m6aIZp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mac Cerullo (@MacCerullo) June 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n When asked whether he\u2019s fighting to keep his spot in the Red Sox rotation, he said, \u201cI think I\u2019m fighting for my spot in the game honestly. I think at some point, throwing the way that I\u2019ve thrown, there\u2019s not a lot of places for seven ERA starting pitchers in the big leagues.\u201d<\/p>\n The 30-year-old right-hander added that he\u2019s going to keep fighting and still believes he can turn his season around, but he\u2019s not sure when that might be.<\/p>\n Buehler was one of the best pitchers in baseball before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2022, going 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in his first six seasons with the Dodgers. He\u2019s been unable to get back on track since the surgery, however, and has spent much of the last season and a half searching for answers.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The two-time World Series champ has struggled with his command and isn\u2019t missing as many bats as he used to. According to Statcast, he has the lowest average fastball velocity (94.2 mph) and highest barrel rate (10.1%) of his career.<\/p>\n Buehler\u2019s season has also been derailed by shoulder inflammation, which caused him to miss much of May. Since returning from the injured list on May 20, he\u2019s 1-5 with an 8.64 ERA and a 7.60 FIP in his last eight starts for Boston, but Alex Cora insists he\u2019s fully healthy<\/a>.<\/p>\n With the Red Sox sputtering at 41-44, they need Buehler to right the ship in the second half if they want to get back in contention and make the playoffs. If he doesn\u2019t figure things out soon, however, they may need to move him to the bullpen and give someone else an opportunity in the rotation.<\/p>\n \t