Red Sox
“He hasn’t bounced back the way we wanted so we have to wait.”
A Red Sox rotation that has been boosted by the returns of Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito in recent weeks received some bad news on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that starting pitcher Walker Buehler is returning to Boston to undergo testing on his shoulder.
“We’re working through a few things regarding Walker,” Cora told reporters, including MassLive’s Christopher Smith, adding: “He hasn’t bounced back the way we wanted so we have to wait.”
Buehler, 30, was expected to start against the Twins on Friday night at Fenway Park before his latest setback. Cora said that Bello will instead start on Friday, while Boston will assess its options for a starter on Saturday.
Cora added that the Red Sox will have to “wait and see” on Buehler when it comes to determining if he needs to go to the IL.
Buehler has been a solid signing for Boston in 2025, with the veteran inking a one-year, $21.05 million deal with the Red Sox after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Dodgers.
So far this season, Buehler is 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA — striking out 29 and walking nine batters over 33.2 innings of work.
Despite his standing as a two-time World Series champion, Buehler’s career has been impacted by injury woes.
His promising tenure with the Dodgers was halted in 2022 after he had to undergo Tommy John surgery for a second time, sidelining him for the rest of that season and all of 2023.
Even though he returned to the mound in 2024, he sported a 5.38 ERA during the regular season before regaining some of his value during Los Angeles’ playoff run — posting 10 scoreless innings to close out October en route to another championship.
While the Red Sox await word on Buehler’s health moving forward, Boston will look to beat the Blue Jays on Thursday night without top rookie Kristian Campbell — who was a late scratch due to right rib discomfort.
The 22-year-old Campbell is an early frontrunner for AL Rookie of the Year — with the infielder batting .301 with four home runs, eight doubles, 12 RBIs, 18 runs, and 19 walks over 29 games.
Sign up for Red Sox updates⚾
Get breaking news and analysis delivered to your inbox during baseball season.
