"It won't quite do it as it does for Shohei Ohtani" - Walker Buehler discusses key pitching advice from Dodgers superstar & impact of his presence
LA Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler shared that he was excited after the club signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal in the offseason. Although the two-way star won't be pitching until 2025 as he continues to rehab, he still engages in pitching discussions with his fellow aces.
Ahead of World Series Game 3 against the New York Yankees on Monday, which will see Buehler take the mound, the pitcher shared his praise for Ohtani while talking to the media on game eve.
"I mean, anytime you add probably the best baseball player in the world, I think it's going to help and free up some of the other guys to play with a little less pressure or a little more freedom, however you want to say it," Buehler said. "But, yeah, Shohei has been great. I think Mr. Casten talked the other day about the kind of person that he is, and we didn’t really know all that when we were getting him.
"He's been awesome in our clubhouse and awesome for our team. So, yeah, it’s been a cool year watching him—obviously with the 50/50—but also just kind of the day-to-day and the kind of human he is as well.
Buehler also mentioned that he wants to know about Ohtani's splitter but added that it won't work out too well for him.
"I ask him about the splitter all the time, but it just won’t quite do it for me the way it does for him," Buehler added (4:15).
Dodgers Game 3 starter Walker Buehler wants to get it chilled out at Yankee Stadium
The weather on the East Coast is just picking up, and Walker Buehler won't like to have it any other way. Ahead of the game, Buehler said that he likes to pitch in cold weather, alluding to his four scoreless innings against the New York Mets in NLCS Game 3.
“I think the weather and the stadium has something to do with it,” Buehler said Sunday. “I said before that game (at Citi Field), I like pitching in the cold, so I am hoping it gets down there a little bit (Monday).”
Walker Buehler wasn't as effective in his first start in the postseason, giving up six earned runs in five innings against the San Diego Padres during the NLDS showdown.
However, his last start against the Mets was highly effective despite Buehler not going the distance. He hopes to do one better when he takes the mound in Game 3 against the Yankees.