The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to become stronger at the end of the season.
Walker Buehler (29) started a simulation pitch on the 10th (Korean time). Before the match between the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, he climbed the mound at Chase Field and threw a ball against his teammate.스포츠토토
On June 11 last year, after the game against the San Francisco Giants, Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament reconstruction surgery) and left for a long time. After that, he underwent a long rehabilitation, and on this day, he pitched his first actual game after surgery.
Buehler is the ace of the Dodgers. He began his professional career by being selected by the Dodgers with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. He went through all the minor league courses in two years with a talent that was outstanding enough to be selected in the upper rounds. He made his major league debut in the 2017 season and stepped onto the big league stage.
Buehler stood out in the starting rotation the following year. He appeared in 24 games (23 starts) and showed off his talent by recording 8 wins, 5 losses, and an earned run average of 2.62 in 137⅓ innings. Since then, I have been a part of the starting lineup and have consistently done my part. He was very active with 14 wins in the 2019 season and 16 wins in the 2021 season.
Buehler’s true value was revealed not only in the regular season but also in the postseason. He started baseball in the fall of the 2018-2021 season and recorded 3 wins, 3 losses and an average ERA of 2.94 in 79⅔ innings over 15 games. In particular, in 2020, he helped the Dodgers win the World Series with an average ERA of 1.80 with 2 wins in 5 games and 25 innings. Buehler’s return, which has been proven as much as this, can upgrade the Dodgers’ starting lineup to the next level.
The Dodgers are at the top of the National League West division with a record of 67 wins and 46 losses this season. Among the National League teams, it is the team with the second highest win rate after the Atlanta Braves (72-40/0.643 win rate). They are one of the most promising teams to advance to the postseason.
However, things are not going smoothly for the Dodgers either. It’s because of the concerns about the selection team. Dodgers starting pitchers this year are falling short of expectations, ranking 19th in team ERA (4.61) and 24th in innings pitched (568).
Veteran Clayton Kershaw is grappling with a shoulder injury. Last year, 17-win pitcher Julio Urias and 16-win pitcher Tony Gonsolin are repeating ups and downs with ups and downs. Traded from the Chicago White Sox, Lance Lynn just joined the starting lineup and went 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings. The team is in dire need of reinforcing the starting lineup in addition to Lin, so it is good to hear of Buehler’s return.
Major league experts also predicted the positive part of Buehler’s return. Reporter Bob Nightingale, a representative source, told personal SNS on the 10th, “The rehabilitation progress of Buehler and bullpen pitcher Blake Trainen is quite encouraging. They will return in September and could be part of the postseason roster. will be more frightening,” he wrote.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who looked at Buehler’s pitching, said in an interview with the sports media ‘ESPN’, “It was much better than I expected, and I used all pitches. Everything was clear and encouraging.” 93 miles (about 148 ~ 149.6 km), the cutter came up to 90 miles (about 144.8 km). The speed was better than expected, “he expressed his anticipation.