The Red Sox are once again down a starting pitcher, though potentially not for long.

Prior to Friday’s game, Boston placed right-hander Walker Buehler on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder bursitis and called up rookie Hunter Dobbins to fill his spot in the rotation. Dobbins is expected to start Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he doesn’t think Buehler will miss much time.

“We don’t think it’s that serious,” Cora said. “He’ll miss two starts and hopefully be back as soon as the days are over.”

Buehler is in his first season with the Red Sox after signing a one-year, $21.05 million deal this past offseason. The right-hander won two World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and through his first six starts in Boston he’d gone 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.

Buehler had been trending upwards prior to the injury, posting a 2.59 ERA with three quality starts over his last four outings, but Cora announced Thursday in Toronto that the righty hadn’t bounced back well since his most recent start in Cleveland.

Cora also said second baseman Kristian Campbell (rib discomfort) should be back in the lineup on Saturday, and that right-hander Richard Fitts (right pectoral strain) is doing much better and throwing up to 120 feet.

Outfielder Masataka Yoshida (right shoulder labral repair) is also back in Boston after having spent several weeks rehabbing in Fort Myers, and Cora said he underwent an MRI earlier Friday to check on his shoulder. The results of those tests were not yet available as of Friday afternoon.

Wong activated

The Red Sox officially have their starting catcher back.

Prior to Friday’s game, the Red Sox announced they have activated catcher Connor Wong from the 10-day injured list. To clear space the club optioned backup Blake Sabol to Triple-A.

Wong is slated to start at catcher and bat seventh in Friday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins. Campbell, who was scratched with rib discomfort on Thursday, is not in the lineup.

Wong hasn’t played since April 7, when he suffered a small fracture on his left pinky finger after being struck in the glove by a George Springer swing on a catcher’s interference. Wong was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day but made a faster-than-expected recovery after doctors determined his injury represented something of a best-case scenario.

The catcher began a rehab assignment in Worcester on Sunday and appeared in three games for the WooSox, going 4-for-11 with one double, one home run and three RBI.

In Wong’s absence rookie catcher Carlos Narvaez has gotten the majority of the playing time and has made a strong case that he deserves regular action even with the club’s original starter back in the fold. Entering Friday, Narvaez was tied for the MLB lead with plus-seven defensive runs saved, and according to Statcast he ranks first in baseball in blocks above average. He’s also earned rave reviews from the pitching staff and has held his own at the plate, batting .210 with three home runs and 11 runs scored in 23 games.

Cora explains decision

Late in Thursday night’s 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Cora opted to let reliever Justin Slaten face star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with one out, a one-run lead and first base open in the bottom of the eighth inning. Guerrero went on to hit a go-ahead three-run home run, and after the game he expressed surprise that the Red Sox pitched to him in that spot.

The decision to pitch to Guerrero continued generating discussion throughout Friday, and prior to that night’s game Cora addressed the issue further, saying he likely would have walked Guerrero had it been a playoff game, but that early in the season his philosophy is to trust his players.

“I thought about it and probably if it’s in the World Series I would have walked him,” Cora said. “I think the walking part of it, I get it, it’s Vladimir Guerrero. We had him 0-2, and we didn’t execute pitches after that. There’s a two-way street here, and I get it, in the ALCS I’ll walk him, but right now in April and May I’ve got to trust my guy. I’ve got to give Justin the leeway that he can do the job, and he’s been great for us. Yesterday he didn’t execute three pitches.”

Cora went on to say he might take a different approach the next time they face Guerrero in a big spot, but in general he believes his instinct to give his players a chance to compete is the right one.

“It’s all about trust right now, we have a lot of young players on this roster, and where we’re going — well, it might have been decided yesterday, we might lose the Wild Card or the division by one game, and it’s on me. But I think the way I manage right now, especially with this group, you’ve got to be very patient,” Cora said. “I truly believe this is a very talented team, it’s not like last year where it’s pedal to the medal, pinch hit in the fifth, walk this guy and try to will wins out there. No, you trust Justin Slaten in that situation yesterday and it didn’t happen.”

Campbell earns honor

Campbell has been honored as American League Rookie of the Month for April, MLB announced Friday afternoon.

Campbell earned the honor after a productive first month in which he batted .301 with four home runs, 12 RBI, eight doubles, 19 walks, 18 runs scored, a .407 on-base percentage and .902 OPS in his first 29 career games. Campbell led all qualified rookies in OBP, doubles, walks, runs scored and extra-base hits, and he reached base safely in each of his first 17 career games.

The 22-year-old is the first Red Sox rookie to earn a monthly award since Triston Casas in July 2023, and overall he’s the 11th Red Sox player to earn AL Rookie of the Month. New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuña received the National League’s honor.