Los Angeles Dodgers: Bold predictions for Walker Buehler in 2019

By Jason Reed | Jan 14, 2019

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after retiring the side during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

1. Walker Buehler has at least one 15-strikeout game

Walker Buehler was fantastic for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season because of the pure filth that he fires at the plate from the mound. Buehler has one of the most electric fastballs for a starting pitcher in the bigs, often tip-toeing triple digits, and a wipeout curve that compliments his gas perfectly.

Buehler knows how to locate his pitches and is a genuinely smart pitcher as well. That is a recipe for disaster for opposing hitters and, of course, leads to plenty of strikeouts.

Buehler averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. In his rookie season. Those numbers are only going to get better as Buehler is going to have some great outings.

One of those outings is going to be a tight one or two-run game in which Buehler is tasked to go eight or nine innings. That game will be Buehler’s best of the year as he is going to baffle hitters and still be firing gas late into the ball game.

As a result, Buehler is going to strike out more than half the batters that he faces and is going to reach the 15 strikeout plateau for the first time in his career. While 15 is not a record-breaking number, it certainly is jaw-dropping coming from a second-year pitcher.

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