Dodgers two-time All-Star could be in danger of being left off playoff roster

Major League Baseball is a team-first business, and it's also a cruel one.

It doesn't matter how many individual awards a player has won. When it comes to the postseason, an organization has to decide who will help them win a championship that season, regardless of what players have done for them in the past.

The Los Angeles Dodgers could face a difficult decision in that regard this October. One of their most respected veteran pitchers has not performed to his capabilities in 2024, and that could be cause to leave him off the playoff roster.

30-year-old Walker Buehler, a two-time All-Star who lost over a year and a half to Tommy John surgery, returned to MLB in 2024 and hasn't looked at all like his old self. That's already causing some to campaign for Buehler to be left behind in October.

On Thursday, Michael Brakebill of FanSided wrote that Buehler's performance has warranted leaving him off the Dodgers' playoff roster this season.

"It would be a foolish decision to put Buehler on the postseason roster this year, even with his previous success," Brakebill said.

"Buehler owns a 3.27 career ERA dating back to 2017, and when he is on his game, he performs at an elite level. The problem is, we haven't seen that version of him all year, and the playoffs are the worst place to bet on a bounce-back performance."

After his latest outing, the Dodgers have to be at least considering the possibility of leaving Buehler off the roster. He surrendered nine hits in just five innings against the Chicago Cubs, dropping his record to 1-5 with a 5.95 ERA.

On a normal team, especially one with a huge payroll like the Dodgers', the stats could be cause enough to leave Buehler off the roster without hesitation. But the Dodgers' pitching staff has been ravaged by injury, so whether or not other key arms are healthy could also play a role in the decision regarding Buehler.

To make matters more complicated, Buehler is a free agent at the end of the season, so every game he pitches from here on out not only affects his chances at playing in October, but his future earning potential.

Needless to say, it would be beneficial for Buehler to start pitching like his All-Star self again soon. Unfortunately, he just hasn't seemed to unlock that at any point this season.

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