The Los Angeles Dodgers have long voiced their confidence in Walker Buehler, and their words gained further credence in a decision to save the right-hander for a potential Game 163 that would determine this season’s National League West champion.
The Dodgers did their part to get there, routing the San Francisco Giants to complete their first series sweep at AT&T Park since July 25-27, 2014. The Colorado Rockies thumped the Washington Nationals, setting the stage for the NL West showdown.
Heading into the regular season finale, the Dodgers had Buehler penciled to start against the Giants. However, not long after news of the Nationals scratching Max Scherzer, the Dodgers announced Rich Hill would instead take the ball.
While Buehler being pushed into a high-pressure outing would seemingly create for some nerves, he’s fully embracing the opportunity to pitch the Dodgers to another NL West title, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
“It’d be huge. That’s a goal,” Buehler said of winning the West. “It’s been a long time since we set that goal until now. It all culminates. But at the same time, it’s still a regular-season game. It’s 163, which is a lot. We don’t go home if we lose, and we get a day off if we win. You know it’s going to be tough, everything is going to be amplified, and the adrenaline is going to be going, but at the end of the day it’s another baseball game.”
Confidence in Buehler extends beyond the front office and manager Dave Roberts, as Justin Turner doesn’t have any concern over his mindset:
“Walker’s a confident guy so he won’t be lacking that tomorrow,” third baseman Justin Turner said. “We know that. We’re more than happy to have him out there.”
Is Turner as confident in Buehler as Buehler is in himself?
“I don’t think anyone is,” Turner said, “but we’re very confident in him.”
A win on Monday puts the Dodgers into a matchup with the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series, and one in which they would have home-field advantage for. The Dodgers defeated the Braves in the 2013 NLDS.
The loser of the NL West championship game faces the loser between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, who are also playing for a division championship on Monday. Regardless of the outcomes from both games, the Brewers or Cubs would host the Wild Card Game on Tuesday.
