NEW YORK — After 1,109 days, Walker Buehler returned to his vintage form on Wednesday, delivering a dominant performance in Game 3 of the NLCS. The Dodgers’ right-hander generated 18 swing-and-misses over four innings—his highest total since his final start in 2021. Most importantly, neither Buehler nor the Los Angeles bullpen allowed a run, leading the Dodgers to an 8-0 blowout win over the New York Mets. Shohei Ohtani capped off the victory with a mammoth home run, pushing L.A. to a 2-1 series lead.
NLCS: LA Dodgers lead series 2-1
Dodgers: 8, Mets: 0
For Buehler, it was a spectacular comeback on a chilly night in New York, reminiscent of his days as the Dodgers' ace. Injuries had kept him off the mound for much of the past three seasons, with his confidence eroded by long layoffs and setbacks. His return to form in 2024 was inconsistent, and after struggling in his previous postseason start, his Game 3 assignment felt like a gamble. But with the series tied 1-1 and the Dodgers in need of a big performance, Buehler rose to the occasion.
“I don’t trust anyone more than Walker,” said catcher Austin Barnes after the game. “He’s done so many big games for us. No matter what happens during the season, he competes. And tonight, he showed it again.”
The competition heated up early in Game 3. With two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning, Buehler was on the brink of disaster, but he struck out both Francisco Álvarez and Francisco Lindor to escape the jam. His strikeout of Lindor—on a full-count knuckle-curve—was vintage Buehler, and his raw emotion afterward reminded fans of his brash, confident persona that once made him one of baseball’s best pitchers.
From 2018 to 2021, Buehler was among the top pitchers in the league, boasting a sub-3 ERA and earning comparisons to the likes of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. However, multiple arm surgeries—including his second Tommy John surgery—sidelined him for nearly two years. His Game 3 start was his first major postseason success since his prime, though Buehler downplayed the moment as merely another playoff win.
“I’m just happy to win Game 3 of the NLCS,” Buehler said postgame. “Maybe later on it’ll mean more, but for now, I’m just focused on the next one.”
Buehler's night ended after four innings, and the Dodgers' bullpen was flawless in relief. Michael Kopech, Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius combined to shut down the Mets, allowing just three baserunners in five innings.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ offense came alive. Enrique Hernández hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his 15th career playoff home run, providing insurance for L.A. But the highlight came in the eighth inning when Shohei Ohtani launched a jaw-dropping, upper-deck home run with two runners on. The two-time MVP’s blast pushed the Dodgers' lead to 8-0, leaving Mets fans heading for the exits.
Despite the loss, New York isn’t out of it yet. Game 4 will see left-hander José Quintana on the mound for the Mets, facing off against Los Angeles’ exciting Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
As for Buehler, he has now made the second-most playoff starts in Dodgers history, trailing only Clayton Kershaw. With free agency looming, Game 3 could be his last in Dodger blue. However, with a potential NLCS Game 7 or World Series start on the horizon, Buehler might have another chance to continue rewriting his comeback story.
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