Walker Buehler hit up the radar gun in his second start since returning from a blister on his right index finger, but failed to get out of the third inning. The 2.2 innings pitched marked Buehler’s shortest start of the season.
He was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer before remaining in the game. Though, that was short-lived as Buehler promptly allowed a two-run home run to Kole Calhoun. The SportsNet LA broadcast later caught Buehler picking at his blister.
“We made a decision for me to go out there and pitch, and it just didn’t go our way in the third. Obviously the couple home runs, but other than those two swings, I think I made some decent pitches,” Buehler said after the Dodgers won in extra innings.
“Just didn’t get out of it, and that’s on me. Luckily, we have a bullpen to float us until late, score some runs to get us back in it and pull off a win.”
The right-hander further dismissed the notion of being limited in pitch selection because of the blister. Buehler relied heavily on his fastball, which touched triple digits on several occasions.
“I had a good fastball going the first two innings and we were kind of riding that. I think that was probably the hardest I’ve thrown in a long time and felt really good about where it was the first two innings,” he said.
“I think more so it’s just kind of the trust in Barnes and what he sees. What I can see from the mound is less than what Barnes can see, so the majority of the time I’m going to trust what he puts down there. I like my fastball and I have full faith in him.”
As for moving forward, Buehler admitted to needing to cope with the blister, but he doesn’t anticipate it causing much of an issue. “I think right now we’re just trying to figure out how to deal with it. I’m not overly concerned,” he said.
“I just want to pitch better. At the end of the day that’s all it really is. I have the utmost trust and respect for our trainers, our coaching staff and making decisions. I think we’ve handled it pretty well so far. I don’t think today was a result of that.
“I think obviously it’s something, no offense, that you guys will talk about and whatnot. To me, I just didn’t make pitches.”
Dodgers open to skipping Buehler
Dodgers manager Dave Robert said the club did not immediately have plans to do so, but they would be open to potentially skipping Buehler in the rotation if it meant better ensuring his blister heals.
L.A. has an off day Friday, which would allow them to juggle the rotation without needing to put Buehler on the 10-day IL for a second time.
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