Sometimes, a single pitch in the second inning can change the entire outcome of a baseball game. It could even save a player's season. Wednesday night, during Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, this is exactly what happened for Walker Buehler. In a pivotal moment, he found himself facing Francisco Lindor with the bases loaded, two outs, and his Los Angeles Dodgers leading the New York Mets 2-0. This pitch had the potential to shift the game's momentum, and Buehler, after a rough season, was determined to make it count.
Buehler’s journey to this moment has been anything but easy. After sitting out most of the 2022 season and all of 2023 due to his second Tommy John surgery, his return to the mound this season hasn't been the same as his glory days. The pitcher who once boasted a 2.47 ERA and led the Dodgers to postseason success, winning 16 games in 2021, struggled in his return. This season, Buehler made 16 starts, winning only once and finishing with a 5.38 ERA. It was a stark contrast to the Buehler who once pitched seven scoreless innings in a World Series game as a rookie.
The Dodgers, lacking other healthy pitching options, included him in the postseason rotation despite his struggles. In his previous playoff start against the Padres, he had a disastrous outing, giving up six runs in just one inning. But baseball is unpredictable, and redemption can come at unexpected times.
In that crucial second inning, the count against Lindor ran full at 3-2. Catcher Will Smith, knowing Buehler’s strengths, called for a curveball. It was a gutsy decision, especially considering Buehler’s younger self might have chosen to fire a fastball in this situation. Yet, Buehler went with the curve, and it paid off. The ball dove just below Lindor's knees, causing the Mets' star to swing and miss. That single pitch electrified the Dodgers' momentum, and from that moment on, the game was theirs to lose.
Buehler’s reflection on the pitch was a glimpse into his transformation. "Oh, in 2018, 2019, 2020, I would have thrown a fastball. Yeah," Buehler admitted after the game. His willingness to adapt, to trust his curveball in such a critical situation, signaled a new phase in his career.
With Buehler’s clutch strikeout, the Dodgers cruised to an 8-0 victory, taking a 2-1 series lead. This victory marked the Dodgers' fourth shutout in five playoff games, a rare feat only matched by the 1905 New York Giants and the 2020 Atlanta Braves. In this game, Buehler delivered four scoreless innings before handing the baton to the bullpen, who kept the shutout intact.
What made this performance remarkable wasn’t just the result but the context. Buehler, whose final line of four innings might not earn him a place in Dodgers' postseason folklore, still felt pride. "Honestly, the only point of pride I've had in the past couple of months has been trying to get deep into games and be efficient," he said. “But I'm proud just for a different reason in terms of being able to get through some big spots and tough spots.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed Buehler’s sentiments, pinpointing the Lindor strikeout as the game’s defining moment. "Right there, that was the pitch of the game," Roberts said. "They were gaining momentum, the crowd was into it. To get the breaking ball down below the zone and get a great hitter out was huge. And I think that just kind of speaks to experience."
The conditions at Citi Field also played a part in Buehler’s success. On a chilly night with temperatures dipping to 56 degrees, the cold seemed to add a strange element to the way the ball moved. Buehler recorded a season-high 18 swings and misses, matching his career playoff best. He had only hit double-digit swings and misses three times during the entire season, and in his NLDS outing against the Padres, he managed just eight.
"The cold really affects the ball weirdly," Buehler explained. "The ball moves really well here, or kind of always has. I think the cold just makes the ball act a little bit funky."
Facing a predominantly right-handed Mets lineup, Buehler leaned heavily on his sweeper, throwing it a season-high 21 times out of his 90 pitches. In the third inning, he escaped a dangerous situation with two runners on base by striking out J.D. Martinez with a nasty 2-2 sweeper. It was clear that the cold weather was working in his favor, as catcher Will Smith confirmed. “It was moving a lot. It was just consistent-count situations where he just kind of needed to lean on it.”
Lindor, too, acknowledged the effects of the cold. "From the last time I faced him, yeah, his ball was moving more," Lindor said. "He made me chase when he wanted me to chase, and he threw strikes when he wanted to throw strikes. Bottom line, it came down to who executed the most, and he did that."
After Buehler exited the game, the Dodgers' bullpen took over. Michael Kopech, Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen, and rookie Ben Casparius combined for the final innings, perhaps benefiting from the cold weather as well. “Our relievers that came in, I was looking at their big-boy metrics,” Buehler said. "I don't know the crosswinds and what happens, but all five of my pitches were kind of a little bit bigger or weirder or acted different than normal."
On the offensive side, Kiké Hernández’s two-run homer and Shohei Ohtani’s towering three-run blast helped the Dodgers secure the win. With their top relievers Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson resting, the Dodgers set themselves up well for Game 4, where Yoshinobu Yamamoto would take the mound, though he wasn't expected to go deep into the game.
For Buehler, this game was more than just a shutout victory. It was a reminder of his resilience, his ability to adapt, and his contribution to the Dodgers when they needed him most. “This game in October is about having zeros, and I'm proud of the fact that I was able to do that four times," Buehler reflected after the game.
In a season filled with challenges, Buehler's second-inning pitch to Lindor might just be the turning point for both him and the Dodgers.
Login