Walker Buehler Gets Brutally Honest About Struggles With Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have suffered through several significant injuries. In spite of these short-term setbacks, the expectation for the Dodgers is still World Series or bust.

The Dodgers can expect to get some of their key players back in time for a postseason run. It’s too soon, however, to pencil right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler into any postseason roster.

After recovering from his second Tommy John surgery earlier in the season, Buehler was placed on the injured list June 19 due to hip discomfort after making only eight starts. Independent of the injury, his struggles on the mound this season can’t be overlooked.

In a recent interview with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, Buehler didn’t mince any words when discussing his struggles on the mound in 2024.

“Being s—,” Buehler told The Athletic. “There’s nothing worse than costing your team games and feeling like you’re in the way because you need all this attention. It’s easy to kind of demand attention and time or whatever when you’re throwing the ball really well. But when you’ve got a 6 (ERA), it’s mentally hard.

“It makes it hard for you to want to be here in some way. I think it makes it hard for you to keep taking the rep from the teammates who are there helping us win. I don’t know if everybody thinks that way but that’s just kind of how I think.

“Rehab is hard. Trying to get out of rehab is hard.”

Buehler recently tossed a bullpen session on Monday. Although he is still some ways away, according to manager Dave Roberts, he is expected to make a couple of rehab starts following Monday’s session. It hasn’t been the best of starts for the 29-year-old; he’s recorded a 1-4 record with a 5.84 ERA, 31 strikeouts, an opponents’ batting average of .301, and 1.51 WHIP in 37.0 innings.

Because of these struggles, Buehler decided to go to Florida and work out at a private facility. It’s unclear if it will work, but he needed a change of scenery, and we could find out soon if it was beneficial.

The two-time All-Star will look to find himself and eventually be vital to a long postseason run this season.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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