Walker Buehler Injury Update: Dodgers Star Targets September Return After Dominant Rehab Start

BOSTON—The Boston Red Sox have shifted right-hander Walker Buehler to the bullpen in a bid to stabilize a rotation that has faltered during the dog days of August, manager Alex Cora announced Friday before the opener of a pivotal weekend series against the New York Yankees. Buehler, 31, signed a one-year, $21.05 million “prove-it” deal last winter after returning from Tommy John surgery, but the former Dodgers ace has yet to find his stride in the American League. Through 22 starts he owns a 5.40 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and just 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings—well below his career norms. His latest outing Tuesday against Baltimore lasted only four innings and ballooned his August ERA to 6.88, forcing Cora’s hand. “We need innings from the bullpen anyway, so this lets Walker reboot without the weight of turning the lineup over three times,” Cora said. A replacement starter for Monday’s home game versus Tampa Bay will be announced after the weekend. Top prospect Luis Guerrero and swingman Kutter Crawford are the leading internal candidates. For Buehler, the demotion marks the latest twist in a roller-coaster three-year stretch. Elbow reconstruction wiped out his 2023 campaign, and Los Angeles dealt him to Boston last December in a move that stunned fans on both coasts. The two-time All-Star showed flashes of vintage velocity during spring training, touching 97 mph, but command has been elusive; his 11.2% walk rate is the highest of his big-league career. Boston enters play Friday at 67-59, 4.5 games behind first-place Toronto in the AL East and two games out of the final Wild Card. With staff ace Brayan Bello already on an innings monitor and veteran Chris Sale battling shoulder fatigue, the club can ill afford short starts down the stretch. Buehler was pragmatic about the decision. “I haven’t done my job,” he admitted. “Going to the ’pen is a chance to help the team in shorter bursts, maybe find that gear that’s been missing.” From an analytics standpoint, a bullpen role could accentuate his strengths. Opponents are batting just .211 against his four-seam fastball the first time through the order, but .318 thereafter. Working one or two innings would allow the Vanderbilt product to lean heavily on his high-spin heater and knifing slider without saving bullets for later frames. Fantasy baseball managers should monitor Boston’s late-inning hierarchy: Kenley Jansen remains the closer, yet Buehler’s high-leverage pedigree makes him a potential source of holds—and maybe the odd save—if his stuff plays up. The Red Sox’ roster churn also underscores the urgency in a crowded playoff race. Whether Buehler’s bullpen stint is temporary or a permanent reinvention could determine Boston’s October fate—and shape the right-hander’s market value when he re-enters free agency this winter. One thing is certain: Fenway’s spotlight just shifted from the mound to the ‘pen, and all eyes will be on Walker Buehler when the call rings down the right-field line.