Reported by Yahoo Sports
Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres' 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
To use the word "ace" for Walker Buehler might seem like a bit much. The veteran righty posted a 4.63 ERA across 153 2/3 innings this season. He was signed to a minor-league deal with the Friars in hopes that he could perform to some degree. He delivered, and then some. For the final two months of the season, Buehler never allowed more than three earned runs in any start he made (13 starts).
Solely based on anchoring the rotation alongside Michael King, Buehler deserves an A. His ERA is only high due to a tough July that saw him post a 9.82 ERA. Most of that damage came in his first two outings, with Buehler surrendering 16 runs across a nine-inning stretch. However, that came immediately after a dominant June (1.71 ERA, 26.1 IP), so it's tough to judge him too harshly on that blip.
