Walker Buehler made his fifth start of the season on Sunday and pitched five scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Detroit Tigers in the rubber match of their Interleague series at Dodger Stadium.
While Buehler didn’t have his best stuff, he still managed to post a productive line, giving up six hits and adding five strikeouts to only one walk.
The outing followed Buehler’s best start of the season when he pitched a complete-game shutout while allowing only three hits and striking out 10 with no walks against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 25.
Buehler has now thrown just five innings in three of his outings, and 5.2 in another, after averaging 6.1 per start last season. The right-hander is working to get back to that point, and expects it will happen with a few changes during a bullpen session this week, via SportsNet LA:
“Just kind of getting back to some of the stuff that we found before Arizona, get my throwing routine a little bit cleaner. We should be fine.”
Buehler was encouraged that he was still able to get the job done against the Tigers despite not having his best stuff, but at the same time is still frustrated by inconsistency:
“I think a little bit of both. Obviously the first couple outings of the year weren’t super crisp either and the results weren’t there. So nice to kind of escape one, if you will. You still want to be better.”
Although Buehler has yet to pitch like he’s capable of, he still owns a 2.12 ERA in 29.2 innings with 26 strikeouts compared to seven walks.
The Dodgers pitching staff has still been the best in baseball, so if Buehler can provide them more quality innings their potential could be sky high.
Dodgers considering bullpen game against Giants
The San Francisco Giants have Carlos Rodón and Alex Wood listed as the starters for this week’s short series, while Julio Urías in the opener is the lone Dodgers probable thus far. Wednesday represents Tony Gonsolin’s turn in the rotation, and he’s among the options under consideration.
One presumably figures to be Tyler Anderson, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team is mulling over a bullpen game as well. L.A. proved adept at relying on a stable of relief pitchers last season as injuries mounted, and the group has been stout again in 2022.
A bullpen game on Wednesday would be the Dodgers’ first this season.
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