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Walker Buehler Shocking Demotion Forces 3 New Red Sox Pitching Options
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Shocking Walker Buehler Demotion Forces 3 New Options
BALTIMORE — In a significant and unexpected shakeup of their starting rotation, the Boston Red Sox are navigating a critical pitching dilemma, directly resulting from the demotion of right-hander Walker Buehler to the bullpen. This decision, coupled with an injury to another starter, has created a vacant spot for this Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, prompting the team to consider a trio of promising arms from Triple-A Worcester.
The most intriguing option is left-hander Kyle Harrison, the centerpiece acquisition from the June 15th trade that sent superstar Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. In a strategic move, the Red Sox limited Harrison to just three innings and 38 pitches in his start for the WooSox on Tuesday. This was a clear maneuver to keep him on schedule and fully available for a potential start on Saturday at Fenway Park.
“Everyone’s in play,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora stated bluntly before Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, underscoring the fluidity of the situation.
Promoting Harrison would mean asking the 24-year-old to pitch on short rest, a risk the organization seems willing to take if they deem him the best candidate to secure a win. Since joining the organization, Harrison has been impressive in Worcester, posting a solid 3.65 ERA in 11 starts. His performance has been even more dominant recently, with a stellar 2.35 ERA over five starts in August, making a compelling case for his promotion and highly anticipated Boston debut.
However, Harrison is not the only candidate. The sudden need for a starter arose after the Red Sox made the tough decision to move the struggling Walker Buehler to a relief role and placed right-hander Richard Fitts on the injured list. This double blow forced the coaching staff to re-evaluate their entire pitching schedule.
The situation has created a domino effect. Veteran Dustin May is technically slated for Friday’s game, but Cora has not confirmed that assignment. The team could choose to push May back to Saturday, which would then open up Friday for another prospect.
That prospect could be Payton Tolle, the organization’s top pitching prospect. Ranked No. 40 on Baseball America’s Top 100 list, the 22-year-old lefty is a tantalizing option. He is currently scheduled to pitch for Worcester on Friday, either as a starter or in a “piggyback” role following another pitcher. The Red Sox could easily alter that plan to have him make his MLB debut against the Pirates instead.
“We’re still juggling a lot of things,” Cora admitted, highlighting the complexity of the decisions ahead.
The third option is right-hander Tyler Uberstine, who is scheduled to start for the WooSox on Saturday. If the Red Sox call him up for Friday or Saturday, he would be pitching on extra rest. While perhaps the least likely of the three, the 26-year-old has earned consideration with a reliable 3.70 ERA in 21 outings for Worcester. His journey to this point is itself a story of perseverance, having received no college scholarship offers after pitching only seven innings in his entire high school senior year.
Both Tolle and Uberstine are not on the 40-man roster, meaning the Red Sox would need to make a corresponding roster move to select their contracts for a spot start.
This pitching puzzle, triggered by the Walker Buehler demotion, presents a fascinating crossroads for the Red Sox. Do they go with the newly acquired Harrison, the top-tier prospect Tolle, or the steady underdog Uberstine? The answer will reveal much about the team’s priorities as they navigate the final stretch of the season.