Dodgers: Chronicling Walker Buehler’s 18th Start vs. Diamondbacks

Dodgers Nation will be following Walker Buehler’s starts as he seeks to be the next elite Dodgers pitcher. The Dodgers have a history of dominant players on the mound from Sandy Koufax to Don Drysdale to Clayton Kershaw. As a former first-round pick and a highly touted prospect, Buehler looks to be the next big thing in Los Angeles. All we can do is relax and enjoy the show.

September 2, 2018

Season statistics coming into the game: (6-4, 3.02 ERA)

Season statistics after the game: (6-4, 2.92 ERA)

The Opponent: Arizona Diamondbacks

Stadium: Dodger Stadium

Days of Rest: 4

Catcher: Yasmani Grandal

Game Results

Innings Pitched: 6.1

Earned Runs: 1

Hits: 2

Home Runs: 0

Strikeouts: 9

Walks: 3

Pitch Count: 103

Batters Faced: 24

MLB.com Game Score:

History

Walker Buehler had not faced the Diamondbacks prior to his start on Sunday. This game came with high stakes with Los Angeles and Arizona tied for first place in the division.

Buehler threw his shortest start in his last outing, going just four innings, allowing two runs against the Rangers.

Performance

Walker Buehler continued his case as one of the best young pitchers in the game. He allowed just one run on two hits against the Diamondbacks. He wound up with the no-decision due to a lack of run support but the Dodgers ended up with the victory on a walk-off hit by Matt Kemp.

The Highs

Buehler limited his hits allowed again on Sunday. In fact, he recorded as many hits at the plate with his two singles as he allowed to Diamondbacks hitters. Both hits he surrendered were singles by Paul Goldschmidt.

Buehler has allowed four hits or fewer in each of his six starts since the beginning of August. He also matched a career high with nine strikeouts against the Diamondbacks.

The Lows

Buehler ran into trouble in his last inning of work. He allowed a single and a walk in the sixth before Dave Roberts decided to pull him from the game. Paul Goldschmidt, who hit the single, eventually came around to score on an overturned play at the plate. That one run allowed by Buehler prevented him from winning his seventh game of the year.

The worse news came after the game when Buehler expressed discomfort in his left foot. He received a precautionary X-ray after the game.

Analysis

Despite reaching the 100-inning mark for the first time since his sophomore year in college, Buehler did not show signs of fatigue against the Diamondbacks. There is not much more that the rookie could have done to help the Dodgers win the ball game. He helped out the offense with a pair of singles and the lone run he gave up crossed the plate while Buehler was on the bench. Fortunately, late-inning heroics provided the Dodgers with the victory to give them sole possession of first place.