Dodgers: Three Bold Pitcher/Catcher Predictions Before Players Report

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after retiring the side on a strike out during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Walker Buehler finishes with an ERA under two and wins his first NL Cy Young award

While some may not call this prediction bold, it is pretty bold for a pitcher who is going into just his second big league season and has not yet eclipsed the two hundred inning mark. Yet, I predict that in 2019, Walker Buehler will continue his emergence from 2018 and finish with an ERA under two beating out Jacob deGrom’s attempt for a second straight Cy Young award.

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Buehler had a very successful 2018 both statistically and experience wise as he made his first postseason start and first World Series start. He was thrown into high-pressure situations such as game seven of the NLCS and he will build off that to put together his first award-winning season. Walker may have won the 2018 ROY award if he did not get drilled by a line drive and miss time.

While Walker Buehler will likely be the Dodgers’ number two or three starter in the rotation, he has the best stuff of anyone in the rotation and with Kershaw on the decline, he is in the process of becoming the new ace of the Dodgers. Anyone can have one great season but if Buehler comes back in 2019 and dominates the league yet again, he will officially be the new ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Walker is on the fast track to stardom and has four solid pitches which is something not even Kershaw has to this day. His fastball, slider, curve, and changeup are above average offerings already and he is not afraid to use them at any time in the count. His cutter is a variation of his slider and could even count as a fifth solid pitch which is why Buehler will win the Cy Young in his first full season in 2019.