Rookie in the spotlight
Dodgers call on righty Buehler for critical Game 3
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came into the postseason willing to let his starters go deeper into games.
He has yet to find someone who can stick around.
Hyun-Jin Ryu lasted 41⁄3 innings in Game 2 against the Brewers. Ace Clayton Kershaw managed just three innings in Game 1.
Now, it’s Walker Buehler’s turn.
The rookie took the ball Monday night at Dodger Stadium, where he was 4-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) during the regular season.
“Obviously threw the ball pretty good at home. But that’s what you’re supposed to do. You protect your home field,” Buehler said Sunday. “Obviously 50,000 Dodger fans behind you doesn’t hurt. And sleeping in the same city that you’re going to play in and not having to fly anywhere is big.”
The teams traded onerun victories in the first two games in Milwaukee, sending the series back to Los Angeles for Games 3, 4 and 5.
Buehler made his postseason debut in the NL Division Series at Atlanta. The right-hander got tagged for five runs in the second inning of a 6-5 loss. He settled down after that in a five-inning outing.
“You could say that there was a little bit of nerves and anxiety, but that happens,” Buehler said. “My first time there, I think I handled it fine. My heartbeat, I felt good with. I was more upset about kind of the decision to throw certain pitches.”
Buehler has drawn comparisons to Kershaw based on his throwing ability, results and competitiveness. The 24-year-old rookie always projects an image of calm, and he’s not one to dwell on a clunker.
“I know what happened and I was there, so I’m more of a positive feedback guy,” he said. “The only games I want to watch are the good ones and move forward and stick with what I have.”
What Buehler had in the NL tiebreaker game was very good.
He tossed one-hit ball into the seventh inning of a 5-2 victory over the Rockies that gave the Dodgers a record sixth consecutive division title. He retired his first six batters in the scoreless outing.
That’s the version of Buehler that Roberts wants to see against a Brewers lineup featuring Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun and Jesus Aguilar.
But if Buehler doesn’t last long, Roberts already knows what he’s got in his bullpen.
“Our guys have performed really consistent for me,” Roberts said. “We’ve talked about September 1 started our playoff run, and they’ve been very successful, giving us a chance to hold our team within striking distance, have given us a chance to win games late.”