Walker Buehler is ready for October.
The right-hander has posted a 2.73 ERA over five starts in August, putting together an impressive stretch after a shaky start in the Padres rotation.
Manager Craig Stammen believes Buehler has felt a slight autumn breeze as October quickly approaches.
“I think he smells the postseason,” Stammen told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“That’s one thing that’s part of his career is being a part of that every single year. So he smells that. He knows the team needs the quality starts. He also sees the other starters doing really well, and I think internally that motivates him. And he’s just been able to make a lot of really good pitches here lately.”
Buehler hasn’t appeared in the postseason since he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024.
During the team’s World Series run that year, the right-hander played a pivotal role for Los Angeles.
The Dodgers had three healthy starting pitchers that October, including Buehler, who was coming off his second Tommy John surgery. The right-hander sported an ERA above 5.00 in the regular season and wouldn’t have made the postseason rotation had the Dodgers had an alternative.
But Buehler stepped up for the Dodgers in the playoffs.
After a rocky outing against the Padres in the National League Division Series, Buehler didn’t allow a run in the NLCS and World Series. He even closed out Game 5 of the World Series to help the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the Fall Classic.
Nearly two years later, Buehler has a chance to face his former team in the NLDS as a Padre. The two teams could face each other as early as the wild-card round if the Dodgers fall behind the Braves — giving LA the worst amongst NL division leaders.
Buehler would be on the other side for the Dodgers-Padres rivalry this time around, attempting to keep LA from winning its third consecutive World Series title.
