SAN DIEGO -- As they head toward the stretch, the Red Sox, like the other contenders, are making evaluations about their club.

That made Friday night a start to watch for Walker Buehler , whose topsy-turvy first season with Boston has been a source of consternation, particularly for the highly competitive right-hander himself.

In a big spot, Buehler came through with perhaps his finest effort of the season, firing six scoreless innings to lead the Red Sox to a 10-2 victory over the Padres in the opener of a compelling three-game series between clubs that have nearly identical records.

It was Buehler’s first start of six-plus scoreless innings since May 18, 2024 against the Reds.

Backed by improved command of his fastball, Buehler (7-6, 5.40 ERA) looked at home in his latest retur

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