Pitcher Who Was Disaster On Red Sox Last Season Suddenly Thriving For Padres

Pitcher Who Was Disaster On Red Sox Last Season Suddenly Thriving For Padres originally appeared on NESN.
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The Boston Red Sox signed Walker Buehler before last season, but his time with the team was a disaster.

Buehler had a 5.45 ERA with the Red Sox last season and was released in August. He signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and had a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. This season, he has a 3.96 ERA for the San Diego Padres, but his last eight starts have been great. He has a 2.76 ERA in his last eight outings, going 42 1/3 innings and striking out 36 batters.

He has two quality starts in that span and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any start. He is looking more and more like the All-Star he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05 million deal with Boston. He was an All-Star in 2021, but in 2022, things started going downhill for him. He suffered a right flexor strain and eventually got Tommy John Surgery. It forced him to miss the entire 2023 season. He came back in 2024, but once again dealt with injuries and posted a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts.

He earned his deal with Boston by dominating in October. He allowed six runs in four postseason outings, but all six of those runs came in one inning against the Padres. His final 13 innings of work were scoreless with 13 strikeouts. He even came on to get the World Series clinching save on one day of rest.

The Padres took a chance on him by signing him to a minor league contract, and he has proven to be a key part of their rotation. He has made 15 starts this year and is helping the Padres once again compete for a postseason spot.

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