Walker Buehler has been saddled by inconsistency through his first four starts of the season, which closely mirror the same number of outings to start last year. In both instances Buehler was coming off a bit of an awkward ramp-up to the regular season.
He went on to finish 2019 in impressive fashion and is hopeful for a repeat but mindful there is not nearly the same runway. “In a 60-game season you don’t really have time to kind of do that the way that I did last year,” he said after laboring against the L.A. Angels.
“There’s nothing I can really do about it now, but I think tonight was really close to where I want to be. Obviously the results aren’t what I want or what our team needs. I’m pretty lucky we have the team that we do and I haven’t sunk the ship yet.”
Buehler surrendered a two-run home run to Mike Trout, RBI ground-rule double to Anthony Rendon and RBI single to Tommy La Stella. Trout drove in a run on his force out in the fifth inning. All in all, Buehler was charged with five runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings.
It was his second-shortest outing of the year but a season high in 89 pitches. If there was a positive for Buehler to take, he bounced back from issuing four walks to just one against the Angels. “I feel better about where I am physically and throwing the baseball,” Buehler said.
Although the 26-year-old believes he’s on the right trajectory, the shortened season and lack of expected success have Buehler contemplating a change in philosophy.
“Now it’s time to try and go get results,” be began. “There’s a time to trust the process and a time to kind of hunt results. I think I need to kind of make that flip.”
Roberts points to next start for Buehler
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts thought Buehler generally pitched well despite what he ultimately had to show for it and anticipates the right-hander will soon fire on all cylinders. “He’s really close,” Roberts said.
“There were some calls that could’ve gone either way. I really think the stuff was good, I think the command was good. You’re still trying to navigate a good lineup over there.
“I think that next one he’s really going to hit his stride.”
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