Walker Buehler struggled throughout the 2024 season but emerged as a Los Angeles Dodgers playoff hero with a dominant performance against the New York Yankees in the World Series.
The right-hander threw five scoreless innings in his Game 3 start and then returned to the mound two days later to close out the Yankees after the Dodgers erased a five-run deficit.
Buehler struck out two of the three batters he faced on 16 pitches en route to his first Major League save. It capped off a remarking postseason run that included 10 consecutive scoreless innings against the Yankees and New York Mets.
During an appearance on the “On Base With Mookie Betts” podcast, Buehler revealed he lied to Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior about throwing before entering Game 5 so he could pitch the ninth inning:
“Mark called down and said, ‘What the [expletive] are you doing down there?’ I said, ‘I told y’all I’ll be down here.’ He goes, ‘Have you thrown?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’”
Buehler had previously revealed he informed the Dodgers front office and coaching staff the morning of Game 5 that he would be available out of the bullpen.
Although he didn’t go through his normal throwing routine before Game 5, Buehler ended up being needed by the Dodgers as they used seven pitchers to cover the first eight innings.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that the team didn’t go into the matchup with the idea Buehler would pitch out of the bullpen.
“That happened within the game,” Roberts said after the Dodgers won the World Series.
“Seventh inning, he just said that he’s going to be available. I didn’t see that even coming into play, but obviously as the game sort of played on, we had to keep the game close. Our guys were fighting, so I just felt that at that point in time, I was going to be all in.”
Walker Buehler Day established in Lexington, Ky.
The current Dodgers free agent recognized with Walker Buehler Day being established in his hometown of Lexington, Ky.
The 30-year-old still lives there in the offseason and announced a donation of physical therapy equipment to local first responders on behalf of the Buehler Family Foundation.
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