Dodgers: Walker Buehler to start game one of the NLDS

A day before the start of the NLDS, the Dodgers officially named Walker Buehler as their starting pitcher for the NLDS opener.

Walker Buehler has always been said to be the Dodgers’ ace of the future.  It turns out he will be LA’s ace this postseason as he was officially announced as the starter for game one of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals.  After a rough showing in his first postseason start in Atlanta, Buehler bounced back and delivered for the Dodgers, including game seven of the NLCS.

Overall this season, Walker Buehler posted an ERA of 3.26 and limited the opposition to a .223 average.  He struck out 215 batters in just 182 1/3 innings pitched.  Buehler was much better at Dodger Stadium pitching to an ERA of 2.86 compared to a 3.66 ERA on the road.

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This was likely one big factor in the Dodgers’ decision to start him game one and Hyun-Jin Ryu will likely get game two since he has pitched much better at Dodger Stadium.  In last year’s World Series run, he posted an ERA of 3.80 in four starts which were inflated by his first start in which he allowed five earned runs, accounting for exactly half of the runs he allowed the entire postseason.

Despite that inflated ERA, Walker held the opposition to a .190 average in the 2018 postseason and had a stellar WHIP of 0.85.  Now he will lead the Dodgers into the 2019 postseason and look to draw on last year’s experience to become LA’s ace during October.  Buehler had an inconsistent season and tinkered mechanics in his last start but he should be ready to deliver a strong performance in game one.

Walker Buehler made two starts against the Washington Nationals this season including one start in Los Angeles where he blanked the Nationals over seven innings while striking out seven.  His other start against Washington came on the road and Buehler allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.  The rest of the Dodgers’ rotation and NLDS roster will be revealed tomorrow at the latest.