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The Phillies are adding a former starter just in time for the playoffs.
Walker Buehler, who was recently released by the Red Sox, agreed to a minor league deal with Philadelphia on Sunday.
He was assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
He will be able to participate in the playoffs for the Phillies, who are currently leading the National League East and are likely to secure the division unless the Mets achieve an extraordinary comeback in September.
He would join a Phillies rotation that lost ace Zack Wheeler to season-ending thoracic outlet surgery and is seeing Aaron Nola pitch to a 6.27 ERA.
“We’re thrilled to have him on the team because we believe he enhances our performance,” expressed Phillies president Dave Dombrowski, as reported by AP. “Our goal is to do everything possible to secure a playoff spot and, once there, to give our all to win.”
Buehler, a former Dodgers standout, won two World Series with the franchise in 2020 and in 2024, playing a significant role for both teams.
The 31-year-old pitcher recorded a 1.80 ERA over five playoff starts with the Dodgers on their way to the 2020 championship and maintained a 3.60 ERA in last postseason’s four appearances, including three starts.
Since debuting in 2017 with the Dodgers, he has accumulated multiple 200-plus strikeout seasons and was an All-Star in 2019 and 2021.
The 2025 regular season saw Buehler posting a 5.45 ERA across 22 starts, with 84 strikeouts in 112 ⅓ innings pitched, while maintaining a 1.56 WHIP.
“We think we see some things that can hopefully help him,” Dombrowski said of Buehler. “He’s willing to work with us.”
He signed a $21 million contract in the offseason with the Red Sox.