The Houston Astros have played well in the month of June and are now 48-33 on the season. That’s good for the second-best record in the American League.
They also lead the AL West by 6 1/2 games over the second place Seattle Mariners.
However, their pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, particularly the starting rotation. They have seven pitchers on the injured list currently.
Nick Selbe of Sports Illustrated listed right-hander Walker Buehler as a trade candidate and had the Astros as a possible fit.
“Buehler’s numbers to date look like a massive disappointment until you realize they’re more or less in keeping with what he did in his final year with the Dodgers. His postseason heroics might have made the Red Sox brush aside his regular season struggles, and perhaps they’ll buoy his trade value for a contending team looking for someone who’s proven capable of getting outs in October, either as a starter or in relief,” Selbe wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Buehler is struggling with Boston this year. He is 5-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 13 starts after signing a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Red Sox.
However, he does have a good postseason track record, so if a team comes calling for him, it will be for that reason. He has struggled to stay off the injured list in recent years.
The 30-year-old veteran has a mutual option for 2026, so if a team does acquire him, they’ll have the option of keeping him around for one more year or letting him walk.
The right-hander won Game 3 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Yankees last fall and even closed the door in Game 5 to clinch the series.
There is still value with Buehler. He has won two World Series titles and has been an All-Star twice.
He could significantly boost the Astros rotation and give them somebody who can eat innings and keep the team in games if acquired.
We’ll see if Houston shows interest.
More MLB: Red Sox predicted to hold onto $21.05 million World Series hero
