Dodgers: Walker Buehler admirably takes accountability for latest loss to Reds

Uh, what’s going on with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Not too long ago, this team was 13-2 and knocking out every team in their path. Now? They’re 15-9 and tied atop the NL West with the San Francisco Giants.

Yup, the Giants, not the San Diego Padres. Though the Dodgers have been decimated by injuries, it’s still no excuse.

Despite Walker Buehler’s 10-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, the Dodgers lost their third straight game for the first time since August of 2019.

This time, it was another blown lead, which fans have seen far too much off over this current stretch in which LA is 2-7 in their last nine games.

This one wasn’t quite as bad as Sunday night’s meltdown, but Buehler still had harsh words for his performance in the postgame.

Dodgers ace Walker Buehler had some harsh words for himself Tuesday.

Though the bullpen’s largely been at fault for blowing these leads, Buehler did stumble and immediately gave back the Dodgers’ two-run cushion when he took the mound in the top of the seventh.

He finished the day allowing five earned runs on seven hits and a walk across 6.1 innings and was specifically taken to task by Reds slugger Jesse Winker. Buehler was relieved by Scott Alexander, who promptly gave up a run, which ended up being the difference in the 6-5 loss.

Nonetheless, Buehler taking accountability to this extreme after his first non-quality start of the year is admirable. Because, truth be told, the offense and bullpen are to blame mostly across this current skid.

Buehler had allowed two earned runs or fewer across his first four starts against the Padres, Nationals and Rockies before his seventh-inning meltdown on Tuesday night, which put an end to his quality start streak to begin the year.

But he’s certainly not wrong here. The Dodgers’ anemic offense as of late (they’ve scored just 31 runs over their last 10 games) managed to put up five last night, which should’ve been enough for their MLB-best pitching staff, especially against the Reds, who were losers of seven straight before stepping foot in Los Angeles.

It’s early. The Dodgers are going through some things and aren’t at full strength. At the very least, Buehler taking accountability when he really doesn’t need to shows how good of a leader and teammate he is, which will pay off in the long run when the Dodgers are trying to repeat as World Series champs later in the year.

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