Pitcher Walker Buehler still enjoys beating rival teams, especially the San Diego Padres. The 31-year-old righty, who previously pitched for the Dodgers, improved his record against the Padres to 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 13 career starts.
Buehler’s latest win was particularly notable, as he led the Red Sox to a scoreless first six innings and finished with 4 strikeouts. He considers this performance one of his top outings of the season, alongside a few other impressive appearances against playoff-caliber teams.
In his 19 postseason outings, Buehler has a 3.04 ERA and recorded the final out in last year’s World Series. His ability to perform well in high-stakes games is significant, given his reputation as a big-game pitcher. Manager Alex Cora emphasized the importance of Buehler throwing strikes with his fastball, which he did effectively on Friday.
Buehler credited improved control over his pitch, particularly his fastball, for his success. His 47% usage of the fastball and 64% strike rate helped him dominate the Padres. With this win, the Red Sox (65-52) continue to push for their first playoff berth since 2021, with Buehler’s performance against big-game teams a key factor in their success.
Source: https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/08/why-boston-red-sox-walker-buehler-gave-emphatic-of-course-after-win.html