Dodgers fans can't fathom Walker Buehler getting revenge on them in playoffs

Walker Buehler has been pitching for his life since being released by the Red Sox and signed to a minor-league deal by the Phillies in late August. The Phillies called him up after he spent a few weeks in Triple-A and he's since pitched two outings — 8 2/3 innings, seven hits, just one earned run, and six strikeouts for a 1.04 ERA. His second came in long relief behind Taijuan Walker.

Buehler's place on a Phillies postseason roster isn't assured, as they do currently have six healthy starters, but Dave Dombrowski knew what he was getting when he took a flyer on Buehler, despite his numbers with the Red Sox: a postseason hero.

He made his first trip back to Dodger Stadium with the Phillies last week, and celebrated his new team's division clinch in a different part of the stadium than he's used to.

The Phillies are all but guaranteed the No. 2 seed and first-round bye, while the No. 3 seed Dodgers will most likely face the No. 6 seed Mets or Reds. The Dodgers and Phillies have seen each other five times in October; Philadelphia has a .591 record against them.

When Buehler was asked how it would feel to face the Dodgers in the NLDS, he slyly said, "You guys know I like pitching in October, so we'll see what happens."

Walker Buehler vs. Dodgers seems like an inevitable postseason matchup if LA gets through the Wild Card

Buehler has already pitched against the Dodgers once this season when he was still a Red Sox; he lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up three runs before being yanked. But his 3.04 ERA in 94 1/3 postseason innings speaks for itself, and the Dodgers know better than anyone not to underestimate him when he's under that kind of pressure.

The Phillies already showed the Dodgers — and the rest of baseball, really — that they're a force to be reckoned with and look primed for the postseason. Even though LA managed to fight back from being swept in their series finale, the first two losses were so horrendous that it didn't lend much reassurance to Dodgers fans that they'd be able to hold up in the NLDS.

Maybe the Dodgers' familiarity with Buehler's stuff will actually end up being an advantage for them if this NLDS matchup happens. Still, it's hard to imagine him pitching against them on a stage that he used to dominate for them.