Walker Buehler's Redemption Tour Hits Boston, and the Padres Won't Stop Chasing That First Series Win

The San Diego Padres are one win away from their first series victory of the season, and they're bringing Walker Buehler to Fenway Park to finish the job on Sunday. The Padres grabbed Saturday's game 3-2 on Ramon Laureano's two-out RBI single in the ninth inning, setting up a Sunday showdown where both teams desperately need to get off the mat.

Here's what makes this matchup wild: Buehler is facing the team that cut him loose last September. The former World Series champion with the Dodgers started his Padres tenure Monday against San Francisco, allowing three runs on five hits across four innings. Now he's back on the bump with a 0-1 record and a 6.75 ERA, looking to prove he can be the ace San Diego signed him to be in February.

The Buehler Redemption Arc

Padres manager Craig Stammen is banking on a bounce-back. "Our hope is that he kind of returns to who he's been in the past," Stammen said last week. "And that we have somebody that was a former All-Star pitcher, someone that was a thorn in our side as the Padres, and becomes a thorn in the side for other people."

Buehler's only career start against Boston came in that 18-inning marathon Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, where he went seven scoreless innings. That's the version the Padres need right now. He's facing Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez (0-1, 8.31 ERA), who's also hunting his first win of the season after coughing up four runs, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings against Houston on Monday. Both arms desperately need a clean outing.

Boston's Collapse in Crunch Time

The Red Sox had Saturday in their pocket. They held a one-run lead with Aroldis Chapman on the mound in the ninth looking for his second consecutive save. Then Laureano happened. Now Boston sits at a major league-worst 2-6, having lost all three of its one-run games this season. The offense has been particularly brutal: going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position Saturday and scoring two or fewer runs for the fourth time in eight games.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows exactly what needs to change. "We have to make sure when we are ahead in the count, get a pitch you can handle. If not, pass the baton," he said. Boston did out-hit San Diego 8-7 on Saturday, with Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela each recording a pair of hits, but it wasn't enough.

Laureano's Carrying the Load

While the Padres are hitting a National League-worst .192 as a team, Laureano has been a bright spot. He's sitting at .308 with reaches in six of his first seven games, and Stammen is ready to lean on him more. "I think Laureano has had the best results and best at-bats we've gotten so far, so we'll probably see him more at the top of the lineup going forward," the Padres skipper said.

Sunday's series closer is all about who breaks through first. For San Diego, it's another chance to get the monkey off their back. For Boston, it's survival mode.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.