Walker Buehler is looking to revive his career by pitching a full season for the first time since 2021.
The injury prone right-hander will make his Boston Red Sox debut on Saturday night when he pitches against the Texas Rangers at Arlington, Texas.
Buehler has undergone two Tommy John surgeries during his career, and the latter one in 2022 caused him to miss the entire 2023 season and make his 2024 debut in May.
The results weren’t terrific as the two-time All-Star went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 16 regular-season starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then he was torched for six runs in five innings in a National League Division Series loss to the San Diego Padres.
But in the World Series, it was the Buehler of old on the mound against the New York Yankees. He pitched five shutout innings to win Game 3 and returned two days later to strike out two in a perfect ninth and get the save in the Dodgers’ series-ending 7-6 win in Game 5.
Buehler became a free agent, and the 30-year-old said goodbye to the team that drafted him in 2015 and he signed with the Red Sox.
“There wasn’t anything about L.A. that I disliked,” Buehler said recently. “But given the way I struggled last season, then have a cherry on the top, it seemed like as good a time as any to take the next step.”
Buehler is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA in three career starts against Texas. Former Los Angeles teammates Joc Pederson (4-for-13) and Kyle Seager (1-for-6) have each homered off him.
The teams split the first two games of the season-opening four-game series. Wilyer Abreu hit two homers in Boston’s 5-2 Opening Day victory and the Rangers bounced back 4-1 on Friday behind two homers from Jonah Heim.
“I put in the work and trusted the hitting coaches,” Heim said of his second career multi-homer game. “It was a great team win today. It wasn’t just me.”
Still, it was a good sight for the Rangers. Two years ago, Heim established career highs of .258 average, 18 homers and 95 RBIs while helping the Rangers win the World Series.
Last season, he batted .220 with 13 homers and 59 RBIs. He played 131 games both seasons.
Boston slugger Rafael Devers struck out in all four at-bats on Friday and has fanned seven times in eight at-bats over the two games.
Devers famously complained about the probable move from third base to designated hitter following the signing of Gold Glove-winner Alex Bregman.
After several questions about his approach and how he is spending his time between at-bats as the DH, Devers said, through an interpreter, “I’m a DH and I think you guys need to change the subject.”
Moments earlier, Devers fessed up to his hitting woes when reporters told him manager Alex Cora said he is swinging late on fastballs.
“It’s only been two games,” Devers said. “I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. I haven’t hit the ball but I feel pretty good.”
Right-hander Tyler Mahle will start for the Rangers, and he also is trying to regain his form after Tommy John surgery in May 2023. He returned from the operation to make three starts in August of last season before being shut down for the season due to shoulder issues.
Mahle, who will be making his second career start against Boston, pitched in just eight games over the past two seasons. Against the Red Sox last Aug. 12, he took a no-decision in a 4-3 loss after giving up two runs and striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings.
“When you sit and watch as many games as he has, you want to get back on the mound,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said of Mahle. “When you watch those games every day, you miss it. It’s what you love to do.”
Bregman is 3-for-9 against Mahle, while Trevor Story is just 2-for-15.
–Field Level Media
