SAN DIEGO — As Walker Buehler sauntered off the mound in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series in opposition to the Red Sox, Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax was seen in the background giving the younger right-hander a standing ovation for his efforts.
That’s a picture that has been performed over and over in Buehler’s profession highlights. It was the start of his dominance on large phases, one thing that continued over the subsequent few seasons.
Buehler has pitched in many large video games all through his profession. The Dodgers rode his again in the 2021 postseason, asking him to pitch on brief relaxation twice throughout that run. Time and time once more, Buehler has answered the bell. More usually than not, he has delivered.
“It’s kind of the only thing I care about,” Buehler grinned, when requested what it means to him to be labeled a “big-game pitcher.”
“We play in these games every year. Every team that plays in the playoffs plays in a swing game or the big momentum game. And I just happen to be starting this one. If I’m Game 6, Game 7, Game 3, Game whatever, I’ve thrown in all these games. That’s not the stuff I get super wrapped up in. I want to try and go make a quality start and put our team in a position to win the game.”
Though the state of affairs is one thing Buehler is accustomed to, his path to this level is far totally different than it has been in earlier seasons. Before his second main proper elbow surgical procedure, Buehler was the hard-throwing teen who might overpower nearly any hitter in baseball.
This season, issues have been a lot more durable for Buehler. He struggled along with his command and consistency when he returned after practically a three-year absence. As he appeared for solutions and to work by a nagging proper hip damage, Buehler went to Florida to work at Cressey Performance Center.
Upon his return, the struggles didn’t essentially finish, as he posted a 4.93 ERA over his closing eight begins. But throughout that course of, Buehler felt he was beginning to regain the texture that made him one of the very best pitchers in baseball prior to the damage.
“I think it’s all the same thing. I think part of my struggles for sure was kind of wanting to do it as easy as I felt like I used to do it — not that playing this game at this level is ever easy,” Buehler stated. “But in 2020, 2021, there have been instances that the sport felt like I knew what I used to be doing. And this 12 months, there have been instances that I actually didn’t.
“I think when you’re stuck in a mechanic or in that struggle, there’s not enough confidence in the ability to do the things that you want to do. And you get caught in between a lot. For me, that stuff has kind of faded recently.”
An absence of confidence has by no means been a difficulty for Buehler. Regardless of his numbers, Buehler has by no means shied away from the competitors. The Dodgers will want Buehler to faucet into that ability on Tuesday evening.
Los Angeles’ beginning pitching hasn’t been efficient in the primary two video games of the sequence. Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled in Game 1 on Saturday evening and Jack Flaherty allowed 4 runs over 5 1/3 innings in Game 2 on Sunday evening, the longest postseason start by a Dodger since Tyler Anderson in Game 4 of the 2022 NLDS.
But with the most important sport of the season arising, the Dodgers really feel assured Buehler will give them precisely what they want. Buehler believes he’s the person for the job. Just like outdated instances.
“I think what makes him the right guy is his past performance in those spots,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. (*3*)
