Dodgers’ Walker Buehler ‘Back to Being Who He Was,’ Manager Says

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been very clear about how he will select the starting rotation for the postseason. Time and time again, he has insisted that it is performance-based.

If Tuesday was Walker Buehler’s test, he passed with flying colors.

Buehler delivered his second consecutive strong start , allowing two runs over five innings in the Dodgers’ 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels in 10 innings at Angel Stadium.

“I think his fastball was back to what it has been in the past,” Roberts said after the game. “This year, fastball velocity certainly in the minors and before he got demoted was down. His fastball played up tonight. The slider was good, got a lot of swing and miss. He was kind of back to being who he was.”

Buehler made it through five innings for the first time since June 12, with the only runs coming off homers by Logan O’Hoppe in the second and Taylor Ward in the fifth.

“From the last start, I thought it was even better in the sense of his composure,” Roberts said . “I think right now Walker’s in compete mode. I think that it’s important that, when you’re in September and you’ve got a few starts left until we get to the postseason and him trying to find some traction and get to being the pitcher that he was, it’s important to kind of, at some point, you’ve got to put mechanics aside and you’ve got to go out there and compete and make pitches. His last start, tonight, I thought he did that.”

Buehler gave up four runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings last week against the Baltimore Orioles. While this outing was better, he sees both as positive steps forward.

“I think these past two starts, obviously the line doesn’t reflect it last time, but starting to get some punchouts and all of that kind of stuff,” he said . “I think for me it’s all these little tiny boxes checked. I feel like myself and I feel like I can go and throw the ball well.

“Tonight wasn’t my best game ever, but for right now I’m pretty happy about it and confident and in four, five, six days, whatever we end up doing, I feel ready to take the ball and I feel like I can help us win.”

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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