Dodgers’ Walker Buehler On Early Struggles: ‘It’s Going to Take a Minute’
Walker Buehler, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ right-handed ace and two-time All-Star, was on the mound Sunday for the second time in 2024. However, his most recent major league start did not go as well as his first. The 29-year-old struggled once again, this time against the formidable San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers had a chance to take two out of three in San Diego, but Buehler and the offense were lackluster in a 4-0 loss. The struggles from the offense are inexcusable, even as Shohei Ohtani recovered from a bad back.
As for Buehler, his return from a flexor tendon repair and Tommy John surgery simply hasn’t been a linear ramp up. Each start might feel like an adventure for some time. This year, he’s starting regularly for the first time in almost two full years. It’s going to take some time for Buehler to return to form — if he ever does — and nobody understands this more than the man himself.
After Sunday’s game, Buehler spoke to the media, including SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson, and admitted the difficulty of returning to his pre-surgery consistency:
“I think there’s a timeline before I kind of jump off a bridge kinda deal. Both starts have had some negative things in terms of performance, but some encouraging things for me on the back side of it. It’s going to take me a minute.”
— Walker Buehler, via SportsNet LA
Buehler also added that he thinks it’ll take about 10 starts before he starts to get angry at himself for not performing up to par. Everyone understands that Buehler isn’t going to be the Buehler who went 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA from 2017-22 right away. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts understands this better than anybody.
“I’m not going to put much thought into outings. Getting [Buehler] back into competition mode is a good thing.”
— Dave Roberts, via SportsNet LA
Through a very small two-game sample size, Buehler has been a shell of his former self. So far, he’s recorded a 0-1 record with a 7.36 ERA, six strikeouts, and a 1.77 WHIP in 7.1 innings and 154 pitches thrown. It’s going to take some time for the Kentucky native to find his groove once again and be the ace the Dodgers selected in the first round of the 2015 draft.
It’s been 23 months since Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time. More patience is needed. As long as the righty is good enough to contribute to the regular season rotation and is healthy come October, the Dodgers have nothing to worry about for now.
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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