Walker

Buehler

Buehler served up a two-run homer to Casey Schmitt in the first inning. The Giants brought two more runs in to score in the second on three straight hits and a groundout. Buehler settled in for three more scoreless innings, leaving with two runners on and one out in the sixth at 82 pitches. He struck out five. The 31-year-old right-hander will take a 5.64 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and a 29/12 K/BB ratio across 30 1/3 innings in a start against the Cardinals in San Diego on Sunday.

Buehler tossed a clean first inning, then got himself into some trouble with two walks to start the second. Dansby Swanson made him pay with a two-run double. Buehler would pitch into the fifth, letting two runners on with a single and a hit batter. That would end his day at 92 pitches with four strikeouts. The 31-year-old right-hander will carry a 5.40 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 24/12 K/BB ratio across 25 innings into a start against the Giants in San Francisco on Monday.

After pitching well in his previous two starts, Buehler was back to scuffling during Wednesday’s loss; being easily outpitched by Tomoyuki Sugano. The right-hander gave up eight hits before exiting in the third, and he also issued three walks while needing a whopping 82 pitches to get eight outs. Not ideal Buehler now has a 5.75 ERA, and with the Padres officially inking Lucas Giolito, he’s obviously a name that could be bounced from the rotation when San Diego assuredly moves Giolito into the rotation. As for now, he gets a chance to rebound against the Cubs next week.

Buehler averaged 92.9 mph with his fastball in his first two starts, but he was up to 93.9 mph last week against the Rockies and 94.5 mph tonight. That’s above his 2025 average of 94.0 mph (and he was typically under that it in the second half of the year). It doesn’t make Buehler a fantasy addition just yet, but his stock is trending the right way. He’ll take a 1-1 record and a 4.58 ERA into a start in Coors Field against the Rockies next week.

With his fastball up about one mph from his first two starts, Buehler allowed only three hits, all of them singles. He walked none and struck out four. It’s definitely an encouraging development, but he’s still a long way from being a fantasy option. He’ll get the Mariners next week.

Buehler got through two without a problem, but he walked the first two batters to start the third and then gave up a double and a triple before being pulled with two outs. He’s surrendered seven runs in 6 2/3 innings to begin the season, and other than the fact that he’s due to make his next start at home against the Rockies, it’s hard to see much reason for optimism that he’s about to improve.

Buehler’s first outing with the Padres was a shaky one, and shaky might be too complimentary. He allowed a solo homer to Harrison Bader, and then two run-scoring singles in the fourth; his final frame of the contest. The 31-year-old was only able to generate eight swings and misses over 72 pitches, with a 21 percent CSW. Buehler was once one of the best fantasy options in baseball. He’s now someone who can be safely ignored in all formats.

Buehler was torched for four homers in his final spring training outing but still managed to secure a spot in San Diego’s season-opening rotation. The 31-year-old former fantasy ace can be safely ignored in most fantasy formats based on his underwhelming performance between the Phillies and Red Sox last year.

Good thing the Padres already gave him a roster spot. Five of the 11 hits Buehler allowed tonight came on non-hard-hit balls, but it’s hard to say a guy who gave up four homers was unlucky. He ends the spring with a 6.60 ERA and a 16/5 K/BB in 15 innings.

The 31-year-old hurler could have exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on Saturday, but he has been informed instead that he’ll be a part of the team’s rotation to start the season. Fantasy managers may get a little too excited here based on name recognition, as it’s a stretch to think that he’ll suddenly become a viable fantasy option once again in 2026.