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Los Angeles Dodgers: World Series Game 3 pitching preview

By Jason Reed

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 20: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 20: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

Walker Buehler:

  • Regular season stats: 23 starts, 137.1 IP, 2.62 ERA, 0.961 WHIP, 151 Ks
  • Postseason stats: 3 starts, 16.2 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.140 WHIP, 22 Ks

Walker Buehler’s numbers this postseason have not been particularly great but that is not a huge reason for concern if you are a Dodgers fan. If anything, I would be more concerned how the young pitcher handles the nerves of pitching in a must-win postseason game over how he might be statistically.

And while his numbers might not be the greatest, he has not had a terrible postseason and has been burned by some big home runs.

In the NLDS, all Buehler needed to do was throw strikes to Atlanta Braves starting pitcher, Sean Newcomb. Buehler walked Newcomb with the bases loaded and two outs and allowed a grand slam to Ronald Acuna Jr. the next at-bat. Buehler let up five runs that game and only two hits.

In the NLCS, Buehler pitched just fine in Game 3 at home. A wild pitch (which was really on Yasmani Grandal) scored a run and a flare shot two-run home in the seventh inning made his line bad. Those are eight freak earned runs that don’t typically happen.

Buehler thrives on his hard fastball, his two-seamer and his big curve. The biggest thing for Buehler is getting in a groove early; if he can get through the order the first time around with little to no stress and stay in the windup, we could get seven strong innings out of Buehler.

However, if he is going to falter, it is going to be in the opening innings. The opening innings have been what burned Buehler thus far in the postseason.

The good thing to keep in mind is that Buehler and Game 4 starter Rich Hill have the best strikeout stuff, whereas Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu induce more soft contact. That is big when it comes to stopping two-out rallies.

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