Dodgers Pushing Back Scheduled Start of Walker Buehler
The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying something new with Walker Buehler, who’s a disappointing 1-4 with a 6.09 ERA in 10 starts this season: they are delaying his next start.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters Sunday afternoon before the team’s 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that he is flipping Jack Flaherty and Buehler in the rotation ahead of the series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Roberts wants Buehler to have an extra day of rest, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
The adventures of Buehler have kept the Dodgers on their toes this season, but they can’t afford not to send him back out on the mound.
“Honestly,” Roberts said, “we don’t have another alternative right now.”
Buehler has been searching for the consistent level of performance he demonstrated before having his second Tommy John surgery. Despite delaying his start to the season, and taking time off to rest and recover from a hip injury, the results have yet to arrive.
His most recent start was more of the same. Against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Buehler allowed three earned runs on seven hits in four innings of work. He only struck out one batter.
The former ace of the Dodgers pitching staff knows what he has to do if he wants to factor into their plans beyond the next month.
“We’re trying to get ready for the playoffs and to go and win games,” Buehler said. “It’s kind of time for me to prove that I deserve a place in that. At the end of the day, I’m pretty comfortable with that, in terms of, if I feel like myself, I think I can go.”
What if there isn’t room for him in the postseason rotation? Would he understand the decision?
“Yeah,” Buehler said. “You know, it’s not gonna be easy for me and I’m not going to go down lightly. I feel like I can compete in the major leagues and compete in big games the way I felt today. Now, it’s kind of honing that in. At the end of the day, there’s a lot of guys that have thrown the ball great and I have full faith in the three or four guys ahead of me at the time. It is what it is, but I’m not going to cross that bridge until we get there.”
Buehler will also be a free agent after this season but he won’t discuss the subject as he remains focused on making at least one more big start.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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