Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler candidly discusses his pitching performance against division rivals and playoff contenders.
Buehler Shines as Red Sox Maintain Second Place in AL East
Walker Buehler, the Boston Red Sox's starting pitcher, delivered a stellar performance in their recent win against the San Diego Padres, pitching six scoreless innings and securing a 10-2 victory. This outing marked Buehler's first six-plus scoreless innings start since May 2024, according to MLB.com.
Buehler, who currently boasts a 7-6 record in the season, felt good with his fastball during the game. His performance was praised by Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who commended the pitcher's consistency and control.
The Red Sox are currently trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by three games in the American League East. However, they are still in control of second place, thanks in part to their recent victory. The team will face the Padres again on Saturday night, with Buehler preparing for his next game against Houston.
Buehler's 2024 MLB season stats with the Red Sox show a record of approximately 7 wins and 7 losses, with an ERA around 5.40 to 5.72 and a WHIP near 1.49 to 1.52 over about 85 innings pitched. He has struck out 67 batters while walking 36 during this time frame.
Recent improvements in Buehler's performance have been noteworthy. In July 2025, he matched a season high by going seven innings and allowing only two runs against the Phillies, demonstrating improved command and pitching more like his dominant past self. His ERA since early July improved to approximately 3.67 over 39 innings, with better but still concerning control metrics like a 19:18 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that period.
Despite some setbacks, Buehler has shown progress with four quality starts in the 2024 season and a better strikeout-to-walk ratio compared to previous outings. Notably, he pitched six scoreless innings against the Padres on August 8, 2025, with fewer walks and kept hits low.
Overall, Buehler has struggled with consistency this season but has made notable improvements since mid-2024, especially in command and innings pitched per start. These improvements show glimpses of the high-caliber pitcher he was during his peak years with the Dodgers. Pitching well against playoff-bound teams like the Padres is significant for Buehler as he continues to regain his form.
As the Red Sox strive to keep ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East, Buehler's improved performance will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their quest for the playoffs.
- With Buehler's consistent improvements and strong pitching performances against playoff-bound teams, such as the Padres, rumors of the Red Sox challenging for a spot in the MLB playoffs persist.
- As the MLB regular season concludes and the playoffs approach, the Red Sox believe that the improved form and dominant pitching of Walker Buehler could be the key to securing a coveted spot in the sports' postseason playoffs.
