Walker Buehler Set to Face Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are used to seeing many familiar pitchers, but there’s one they haven’t faced yet. That would be Walker Buehler, who now plays for the San Diego Padres. He’s set to take the mound against the defending World Series champions on Friday at Petco Park.

After a bit of a rocky start with the Padres, Buehler seems to have found his form, boasting a 3.96 ERA in his last 15 outings. It’s quite a turnaround, especially considering he spent the first seven years of his career with the Dodgers before opting for free agency in the 2024 offseason. Interestingly, the Dodgers had offered him $20 million to return, but he signed a contract worth $21.05 million with the Boston Red Sox for the 2025 season instead.

However, his time in Boston turned out to be quite tumultuous. He pitched 112.1 innings with a disappointing 5.45 ERA, leading the Red Sox to eventually release him. Buehler then found a new home with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he made a remarkable comeback, pitching 13.2 innings with an impressive 0.66 ERA.

It’s worth noting that his earlier struggles raised concerns about his capabilities following his second Tommy John surgery. After signing Buehler to a minor league deal, the Padres promoted him into their opening rotation.

Even though Buehler had a shaky start, he remains a key figure in the Padres’ lineup and will be looking forward to facing his old team on Friday. It could be quite the matchup, especially considering he hasn’t participated in the postseason since his standout performance in the 2024 World Series. With the upcoming trade deadline, it’s possible the Padres could enhance their rotation, increasing their chances of making the playoffs.

As past opponents have seen, pitchers can really rise to the occasion under pressure.