Red Sox Pitcher Walker Buehler Placed on Injured List

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have placed right-handed starter Walker Buehler on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, the team announced Friday.

Buehler, 30, was scheduled to start against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park on Friday. Instead, Brayan Bello took the mound for the Red Sox, leading the team to a 6-1 victory.

Manager Alex Cora expressed optimism regarding Buehler’s condition. “Miss two starts and hopefully be back as soon as the days are over,” he told reporters. Cora indicated that the team does not believe the injury is serious.

Before his injury, Buehler had been performing well, boasting a 4-1 record with a 4.28 ERA in six starts since signing a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox in December. His last appearance was a win against the Cleveland Guardians, where he allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Buehler, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, has had a challenging career marked by injuries, including two Tommy John surgeries. The latest surgery in 2022 kept him out of the entire 2023 season, and he made his delayed return in May 2024.

His last full season was in 2021, where he made a career-high 33 starts with a 16-4 record and a 2.47 ERA. To replace Buehler on the roster, the Red Sox recalled right-hander Hunter Dobbins from Triple-A Worcester.

In other news, the Red Sox also reinstated catcher Connor Wong from the injured list on Friday and optioned Blake Sabol back to Worcester.