The 2025 MLB season is barely over a month old, and the Boston Red Sox have already dealt with plenty of injury woes. A decent chunk of those injuries have plagued their pitching depth chart, and the Red Sox's list of ailments only worsened right before the weekend.
On Friday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed that right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler is beginning a 15-day injured list stint "due to right shoulder inflammation." The two-time MLB All-Star hurler felt some discomfort during his last start against the Cleveland Guardians on Apr. 26 and will now be out of the lineup until mid-May, at the earliest.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced that Walker Buehler is going on the 15-Day IL due to right shoulder inflammation. pic.twitter.com/B2RxvnkkEj
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 2, 2025
Injuries are often an opportunity for other players to step up, and Walker's situation isn't any different.
Red Sox RHP Walker Buehler's Injury is an Opportunity for Hunter Dobbins to Step Up
With Walker landing on the IL, Cora also revealed that RHP Hunter Dobbins has been called up from Triple-A Worcester and will start against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon.
Dobbins, a former 2021 Red Sox eighth-round pick, has looked pedestrian in the minors this season. He's 1-0 with a 6.39 ERA in three appearances (1 start) with Worcester, picking up only seven strikeouts with four home runs and six walks allowed in 12 2/3 innings. On paper, it doesn't look like he's deserving of a call-up.
Having said that, Dobbins' struggles seem to disappear whenever he touches an MLB mound. It's the third time that the Bryan, TX native has been recalled to the Majors this season, having made his first two big-league starts in April. He thrived in his limited appearances, picking up wins in both outings while pitching to a 2.45 ERA and 11 strikeouts in as many innings.
The Red Sox's plethora of starting-caliber pitchers has made it tough for Dobbins to stay in the MLB, making it crucial he proves his worth during the latest call-up. He could tally two or three starts before Walker returns to action, and it's going to be tough for Boston to demote the 6-foot-2 righty again if he pitches as well this time around as he did before.
Dobbins potentially proving he's truly an MLB-level pitcher could open up some trade possibilities for the Red Sox. Conversely, it could also be an opportunity for Cora to tinker with the bullpen, potentially moving a starter into a unit that ranks 18th as far as relief ERA goes (4.17).
In the meantime, all eyes will be on Dobbins to see if he'll start his MLB career with a 3-0 record. The Red Sox are currently the -112 moneyline favorites over the Twins on FanDuel Sportsbook, just under seven hours away from Saturday's first pitch.
More Boston Red Sox News & Rumors:
Odds update periodically and are subject to change.