The Boston Red Sox placed right-hander Walker Buehler on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, but manager Alex Cora said it is not a long-term concern.
“He’s gonna go on the IL,” Cora told reporters Friday. “We don’t think it’s that serious. Miss two starts and hopefully be back as soon as the days are over.”
Buehler left the team while it was in Toronto earlier this week and traveled back to Boston to undergo tests on the shoulder before the Red Sox made the decision.
His IL stint is retroactive to Tuesday. Already scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Minnesota Twins, Buehler will be eligible to come off the IL on May 14.
“We’ll talk about it but I’m not too worried about it,” Cora said. “(Head athletic trainer) Brandon (Henry) is not either. Hopefully, it’s something where he misses two starts and he’s right back with us.”
Right-hander Hunter Dobbins was recalled from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. He is slated to start Saturday’s game against the Twins.
Dobbins, 25, went 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two April starts for Boston. He was 1-0 with a 6.39 ERA in three appearances (one start) for Worcester.
Buehler, 30, last pitched on Saturday when he defeated the Cleveland Guardians to improve to 4-1 in six starts. He gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings, striking out three and walking one.
Buehler has a 4.28 ERA with 29 strikeouts against nine walks in 33 2/3 innings.
Soreness in Buehler’s pitching arm always leads to concern. 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.
Buehler last made it through a full season without issue in 2021 when he made a career-high 33 starts. He went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA that season.
Right-hander Brayan Bello (2-0, 3.27 ERA) made the Friday start for Boston against Minnesota.
