đź“° Walker Buehler’s Nightmare Start Adds to Red Sox Rotation Crisis
âšľ Buehler’s Two-Inning Disaster at Yankee Stadium
In his much-anticipated return to Yankee Stadium, Walker Buehler was shelled early and exited after just two innings, surrendering seven earned runs—all with two outs. The outing was especially painful given his status as a marquee offseason signing meant to stabilize Boston’s rotation.
This marks the latest low in a troubling trend for the Red Sox, who fell to 30-35, now 10.5 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees after a 9-6 loss on Friday night.
“This organization put a lot of faith in me this offseason, and I’ve been [expletive] embarrassing for us,” Buehler admitted after the game.
🔥 Red Sox Rotation: Alarming First-Inning ERA
- The Red Sox rotation has been a disaster in the first inning, carrying a staggering 7.06 ERA, second worst in MLB behind the Rockies.
- Buehler became the third Red Sox starter in four games to allow 4+ earned runs in the opening frame.
“At the end of the day, it’s execution. It’s not scouting reports or warm-up routines,” manager Alex Cora said. “We just aren’t executing.”
📉 Buehler’s Season Stats: A $21M Disappointment?
- Contract: 1-year, $21.05M with Boston
- ERA: 5.18 across 10 starts
- Recent Form: 14 runs (12 earned) over last 12.2 innings
- Comeback Status: Still recovering from shoulder bursitis, though physically feels “great,” he claims.
The 30-year-old righty was signed to be a veteran anchor. Instead, he’s become a liability, further straining an already overtaxed bullpen.
🗣️ Alex Cora: “We Have to Pitch”
With the bullpen gassed and morale dropping, Cora made it clear the team is counting on their starters to step up—particularly Garrett Crochet, the lone bright spot with a 1.98 ERA across 13 starts.
“It’ll be great for us to have our starters go deeper in this series… if we can do that, we’re going to be OK.”
🔍 What’s Next for the Red Sox?
Unless the rotation improves fast, Boston risks falling out of postseason contention before July. Buehler’s struggles raise serious questions:
- Can he regain his Dodgers form?
- Will Boston shop for starting pitching at the trade deadline?
- Is it time to call up top pitching prospects?
All eyes now turn to Crochet’s Saturday start to stop the bleeding.
đź“Š Quick Stats Recap
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Buehler ERA | 5.18 |
| Red Sox Record | 30-35 |
| First Inning ERA | 7.06 |
| AL East Standing | 4th Place, 10.5 GB |
đź“š Related Keyphrases to Target (LSI Keywords):
- Red Sox pitching rotation 2025
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- Alex Cora Red Sox comments
- MLB first inning ERA stats 2025
âś… Summary
Walker Buehler’s inability to deliver in high-stakes matchups is now more than a slump—it’s a crisis for a Red Sox team spiraling downward. With playoff hopes fading and arms burning out, Boston must act quickly to save its season—and its $21 million investment.
