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Los Angeles Dodgers Players of the Week: Return of the Matt

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ross Stripling #68 line up before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ross Stripling #68 line up before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

3. Walker Buehler

  • Weekly stats: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 8 Ks

Walker Buehler has really impressed me thus far. Then again, who hasn’t the 23-year-old rookie impressed this season?

Typically, rookie pitchers have a much longer adjustment to the big leagues than position players do. Even the highest-touted pitching prospects will hit some bumps relatively early on. The gap between minor league pitching and major league pitching is just that large.

And let us not forget, Buehler started last season with Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga. He is now the Dodgers’ most consistent pitcher.

This week was just another day in the office for Buehler, who gave the Dodgers another quality start in seven innings of work, allowing just a single run. Overall, Buehler has a 3-1 record on the season with a 2.20 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.

Four of Buehler’s 10 total earned runs came in one start against the Miami Marlins, in Miami. While Buehler did allow seven hits in five frames, he was not being hit around. The Marlins escaped with some ground ball singles and a big two-run home run by Justin Bour. Outside of that start, Buehler has a 1.54 ERA.

There likely will be bumps in the road down the line but so far Buehler has passed every test. His next test will come on Saturday, against the Colorado Rockies, in Coors Field. Coors Field is an ERA ruiner. If Buehler can escape the Rockie Mountains with another quality start, he will cement his place as one of baseball’s best.

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