Struggling Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler ‘fighting for his spot in the rotation’ expected to make next start

Red Sox starter Walker Buehler has been a massive disappointment this season, and his days could be numbered in Boston if he’s unable to drastically turn things around on the mound.

Buehler had no answers for the Blue Jays on Sunday, lasting just four innings and allowing four runs in the Sox’ 5-3 series loss to Toronto. In five starts in the month of June, Buehler has posted an 11.07 ERA (28 earned runs) with 17 strikeouts to 17 walks, allowing seven homers and hitting four batters.

His numbers are ugly, owning a 6.45 ERA this season, and he has thrown fewer than four innings in four of his last five starts. Since he returned from the injured list with right shoulder bursitis, he has an 8.64 ERA (eight starts).

“I think I’m fighting for my spot in the game, honestly,” Buehler said following his start on Sunday. “I think at some point, throwing the way that I’ve thrown, there’s not a lot of places for seven ERA starting pitchers in the big leagues. I don’t know what the next step is, and obviously I want to take the ball every fifth day and keep going and keep fighting, but at the end of the day we have depth and talent in this organization, and there are realities in this game.

“So regardless of whatever happens, I’ll keep going and keep trying to figure it out. I think I owe that to my family and myself, given the rehab that we go through and what that does to you,” he continued. “I’m going to find it and have a run; I just don’t know when or where that will be.”

Buehler will make his next scheduled start this Saturday in Washington, D.C.

“He’s scheduled to make his next one,” Alex Cora said pregame on Monday. “He’s healthy, eager to work, and, like he said yesterday, he feels like he’s getting close to finding it.”

The two-time All-Star who clinched the final out of the World Series last season, striking out former Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo looking, has struggled to get back to his old form since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022. After signing a one-year, $21.05 million deal this offseason, he had hoped to rebuild his value ahead of free agency this coming winter. He has not only seen his stock tank, but he’s also done nothing to provide support in the Red Sox rotation behind ace Garrett Crochet.

Cora believes that Buehler is making progress and close to getting out of his funk on the mound. He specifically pointed out Buehler’s scoreless second and third innings in his last start against the Angels. He also retired 10 straight batters in the middle of his outing on Sunday.

“We’ve seen glimpses the last two starts,” Cora said. “His stuff is still good; we just have to finish, and with two strikes we cannot walk, guys, especially the eighth and ninth hitters.”

Buehler told Cora that he feels good physically and that an injury is not a reason he’s floundering on the mound.

“We’re going to keep working; we’re not going to give up,” Cora said. “This guy means a lot to us. We made a huge commitment in the offseason. He bet on himself, and right now it doesn’t look like it’s happening, but I truly believe it will happen.”

Buehler has been encouraged by his work between starts, describing himself as “halfway there.”

“As a fan or somebody that’s watching this game, for me to say I feel a lot closer, it’s hard to hear,” he said. “I’ve run out of ways to say I’m embarrassed by what I keep running out there with.”

Buehler’s struggles on Sunday began in the first inning when he gave up back-to-back home runs to Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on back-to-back pitches.

“The moment I got into any kind of pressure, everything kind of reverted to what I’ve been doing,” he said.

Buehler told reporters that most of his issues have to do with his arm angle in his delivery.

“A big step forward, but also not where I want it to be,” Buehler said. “There’s glimpses of it, at least, in my head. It’s hard, as a fan or someone who’s watching this game, for me to say I feel a lot closer. That’s hard to hear. I’ve run out of ways to say that I’m embarrassed by what I keep running out there with. But it’s not for lack of effort from the organization or myself.

“It’s hard to break habits that are two or three years long. I’m working my ass off to do it. It’s just frustrating. I’ve said it before: I want to be really good here, and I really enjoy being around this group. But it’s getting to the point where I can’t just expect to run out there, give up four, five, six, or eight runs every time I walk out there, and be part of a group that deserves a lot more out of me.”

A veteran of eight big league seasons, Buehler knows that his days are numbered in the Red Sox rotation and possibly in Boston. The club has some options to replace Buehler in the rotation in Tanner Houck and Kyle Harrison.

Houck has been atrocious in his rehab outings for Triple-A Worcester, and Harrison should be ready after July 4, when the Sox gain an extra year of contractual control over the southpaw.

“I think I’m fighting for my spot in the game, honestly,” he said. “I think at some point, throwing the way that I’ve thrown, there’s not a lot of places for 7.00 ERA starting pitchers in the big leagues. I don’t know what the next step is, but obviously I want to take the ball every fifth day and keep going. But at the end of the day, there are realities in this game. Whatever happens, I’ll kind of keep going and keep trying to figure it out.

“I’m going to find it and have a run. I just don’t know when or where that will be.”