National League bracket seeding still has not been determined, but at the very least the Los Angeles Dodgers have already qualified for postseason baseball the 12th year in a row.
But similar to each of the last two years, the Dodgers head into October short on healthy starting pitchers. That’s been a factor in Walker Buehler seemingly being under consideration for the Dodgers’ postseason rotation, if not a set option even with some of his inconsistency throughout the year.
“I feel good,” answered manager Dave Roberts when asked for his confidence level in Buehler possibly starting for the Dodgers in the playoffs.
“This is as confident as I think I’ve been, and most importantly, Walker is. And the most confident, I think, this year. I believe it was in there, but obviously he needs to have some success to believe in himself.
“I do think tonight, getting nine strikeouts and commanding the baseball the way he is, I feel very confident with him starting a playoff game for us.”
Buehler set a season-high with nine strikeouts against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, but was saddled with the loss. He allowed four runs on five hits, including a homer, over 5.1 innings pitched. Sloppy defense, a misplay from Buehler among that, was a factor.
Last week, the right-hander held the Atlanta Braves to just two runs (one earned) across six innings in what arguably was his best start of the season.
Buehler acknowledged there were some positives to take from his outing against the Rockies, but also expressed it was “not good enough at this point of the year.”
Walker Buehler among few options
Outside of Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto the projected Dodgers rotation for the postseason doesn’t have much clarity.
Buehler presumably is going to receive a spot as well, particularly with Clayton Kershaw’s status uncertain because of left big toe inflammation caused by a bone spur. Landon Knack and Tony Gonsolin are other possibilities the Dodgers may consider for October as well.
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