Red Sox expect Walker Buehler to return from IL to face Mets

If you blink, you might miss Jarren Duran making his impact on a game.

A night after sparking a 3-1, series-opening victory with extra-base hits in each of the first two innings, the left fielder will look to help the Boston Red Sox post an interleague series victory over the visiting New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Duran’s first-inning leadoff double and a second-inning RBI triple — his sixth triple of the season and 20th since the start of 2024, both figures tied for the major league lead — extended his hitting streak to six games and helped set the Boston offense in motion as he so often does.

“When he starts having games like that, we win a lot of ballgames,” said Red Sox bench coach Ramon Vazquez, who served as interim manager while Alex Cora attended his daughter’s Boston College graduation. “It’s a game-changer for us. It was good to see him go out there being aggressive today.”

Though it has not been officially announced, Boston’s rotation is expected to get a boost with Walker Buehler (4-1, 4.28 ERA) returning from the 15-day injured list to make the Tuesday start. He hasn’t pitched for the Red Sox since April 26 due to bursitis in his right (pitching) shoulder.

Buehler, who tuned up during a three-inning simulated game on Thursday, won his last three starts before the injury and allowed three runs or fewer in four straight.

“It was fine from the moment they took the needle out (after administering an anti-inflammatory shot,” Buehler said before the Red Sox faced the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. “I don’t think if it was late in the year that we would necessarily have done the exact same things. But (it’s) just too early in the year to kind of try and push it.”

Buehler is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in five career starts against the Mets, with the most recent coming in 2022.

Buehler will be looking to reverse a recent trend. Over the past five games, Boston’s relievers have allowed just six runs in 19 2/3 innings (2.75 ERA) compared to starters’ 21 runs in 25 innings (7.56 ERA) over the past five games.

Following a Subway Series weekend against the rival New York Yankees, the Mets took their fourth loss in a five-game span on Monday, with Kodai Senga allowing more than two earned runs for the first time in nine starts this season.

A 1-for-8 showing with runners in scoring position did in the Mets.

“We’re gonna have ups and downs,” Mets outfielder Juan Soto said. “We just have to keep our chin up and keep moving forward. It’s a game of failure. Sometimes you’re gonna fail and you just gotta keep moving forward. It doesn’t matter what.”

The top six batters in the New York order had just two combined hits: one from both Soto and Pete Alonso, both off the Green Monster in left field. Soto didn’t run out his fly ball, forcing him to settle for a single, while Alonso was caught trying to stretch his hit into a double.

“If those guys go, we’re gonna go,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who added that he was unhappy about Soto’s lack of hustle.

New York’s scheduled Tuesday starter, Clay Holmes (5-2, 3.14 ERA), is no stranger to facing Boston after closing games for the Yankees over the past three seasons. Holmes is 4-1 with four saves and a 3.54 ERA in 20 career appearances against the Red Sox, but Tuesday will be his first start vs. the Red Sox.

Holmes had earned three consecutive victories before a six-inning Wednesday start in which he allowed four runs on seven hits — including two home runs — against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was his first defeat since his March 27 season debut against the Houston Astros.

–Field Level Media