Dodgers: Walker Buehler’s blister issues could keep LA from winning World Series

The Dodgers can’t make a World Series run without Walker Buehler at full strength.

Though Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named Walker Buehler’s the team’s Game 1 starter for the Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he preached caution when it came to the right-hander’s blister issues, which landed him on the injured list twice this year.

As a result, Buehler made just eight starts during the regular season, pitched six innings just once, and lasted under five innings in half of those outings. And on Wednesday night he was removed after four innings due to those blisters despite striking out an astounding eight batters.

We hate to say it, but the Dodgers can’t count on winning the World Series if this situation with Buehler continues or worsens.

Everybody knows what the right-hander is capable of, and though the Dodgers led the MLB with an incredible 3.02 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, they won’t be able to bring home the hardware if he can’t be relied upon to go deep into games.

Beyond Clayton Kershaw, LA can’t put all their faith in Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, despite the two right-handers being incredible during the shortened campaign. May’s postseason debut came in 2019 and he made two appearances (only 3.1 innings) but Gonsolin has yet to get any time under his belt in the playoffs.

This rotation needs Buehler and Kershaw at full strength in order to compete with the top offenses and pitching staffs in the National League. The Dodgers’ high-powered offense won’t be able to win every game — just look at the Yankees for evidence of that. They need these electrifying pitches to strike fear into opposing lineups.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1311503285468176386?s=20

It sure is a lot of pressure to put on the 26-year-old, but that’s what happens when you become one of the best starters in baseball through your first 70 career games. Buehler owns a 3.15 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 365.2 MLB innings and already has a ton of playoff exposure, sporting a 2.72 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in six starts.

The Dodgers need that kind of production, experience and moxie alongside Kershaw atop the rotation or else it’ll be a near insurmountable climb to the Fall Classic.

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