Walker Buehler

Walker Buehler

30-Year-Old PitcherSP
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Buehler threw as many pitches as you did in 2023, so you have that going for you, which is nice. What fantasy managers hoped would be a cinderella story out of nowhere with Buehler coming back late in 2023 to help in the stretch run never materialized as we were all yet again reminded Tommy John surgery recoveries are not the same and are not guaranteed. We know how talented Buehler was before his surgery, but 2024 is an all too familiar story of risk versus reward. It is extremely unlikely Buehler is going to work over 160 innings in 2024, and we do not know how much rust he has to shake off. Buehler also isn't expected to be available at the start of the season, though he isn't expected to miss too much time. His first pitch in a regular season game will come nearly 20 months from his last pitch of 2022. Your ability to roster him depends on your roster construction as well as your appetite for extreme risk. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season From Preseason
#175
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $8.03 million contract with the Dodgers in January of 2024.
Clinches World Series with save
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 31, 2024
Buehler struck out two in a perfect ninth inning against the Yankees on Wednesday to earn his first-ever save in Game 5 of the World Series.
ANALYSIS
Buehler, just two days removed from starting and pitching five scoreless innings in Game 3, told manager Dave Roberts that he was available in relief. The skipper turned to Buehler with the game on the line and the right-hander slammed the door to secure the championship for Los Angeles. A free agent this winter, Buehler mostly struggled during the regular season as he made his return from a second Tommy John surgery, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA over 16 starts.
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Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2024 MLB Game Log
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2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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2019 MLB Game Log
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2018 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
80
Last 10 Games
78
Last 5 Games
66
How many pitches does Walker Buehler generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Walker Buehler generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-5%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-5%
BAA vs RHP
2023
No Stats
2022
 
 
-7%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .284 333 68 25 86 16 3 12
Since 2022vs Right .269 285 54 20 70 11 0 12
2024vs Left .296 177 37 15 47 9 2 8
2024vs Right .282 167 27 13 42 6 0 8
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022vs Left .271 156 31 10 39 7 1 4
2022vs Right .252 118 27 7 28 5 0 4
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-12%
ERA on Road
2024
 
 
-30%
ERA at Home
2023
No Stats
2022
 
 
-58%
ERA on Road
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 5.01 1.54 79.0 3 6 0 7.6 2.6 1.5
Since 2022Away 4.40 1.29 61.1 4 3 0 8.1 3.2 1.6
2024Home 4.60 1.44 45.0 1 4 0 7.8 2.4 1.2
2024Away 6.53 1.71 30.1 0 2 0 7.4 4.7 3.0
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022Home 5.56 1.68 34.0 2 2 0 7.4 2.9 1.9
2022Away 2.32 0.87 31.0 4 1 0 8.7 1.7 0.3
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Walker Buehler compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
2.29
 
K/9
7.6
 
BB/9
3.3
 
HR/9
1.9
 
Fastball
95.0 mph
 
ERA
5.38
 
WHIP
1.55
 
BABIP
.330
 
GB/FB
1.82
 
Left On Base
68.7%
 
Exit Velocity
81.7 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
5.0%
 
Spin Rate
2315 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
24.9%
 
Swinging Strike
8.0%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
The Dodgers rewarded Buehler for his stellar 2021 season with their opening-day start. After six starts, his ERA was 1.96 with a 1.06 WHIP, but only 32 punchouts in 36.2 innings was a concern. Buehler started six more games, recording a 6.67 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 28.1 frames. He was then put on the IL with elbow discomfort which was later diagnosed as a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. While recovering, Buehler had a bone spur removed from his right elbow. In August, the Dodgers decided to give up on a September return and Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery for a second time, with the first back in 2015. Buehler is likely to miss the entire 2023 season. Keeper leagues may want to stash the righty but hoping for tangible help down the stretch in redraft leagues is fruitless.
In this era of short starts from starting pitchers, Buehler is something of a unicorn in MLB (non-Ohtani Division). Remarkably, Buehler completed at least six innings in each of his first 16 starts to begin 2021, and went at least six in 26 of his first 27 starts through the end of August. There were a few bumps in the road in September and in the postseason, but Buehler was one of four pitchers to clear 200 innings during the 2021 regular season and he tacked on 18.1 frames in the playoffs. The right-hander held opponents to a .197 batting average, ranking second among qualifiers behind only Max Scherzer, and while his strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 26.0%, his 33.1 O-Swing%, 11.6 SwStr% and 29.6 CSW% were all right in line with career norms. Pitching for one of the best teams in baseball, Buehler has a 31-8 record in the regular season over the past three seasons. This combination of skills, team context and consistency with workload make Buehler a first-round consideration.
A pair of IL stints due to a persistent blister on his pitching hand limited Buehler to just eight regular-season starts in 2020, but he nonetheless continued to demonstrate why he is touted as one of MLB's best young hurlers. The right-hander got off to a slow start after a delayed ramp-up to the shortened campaign, yet he still managed a 3.44 ERA, 28.6 K% and career-best 0.95 WHIP. His fastball was again the star of the show as Buehler placed in the 88th percentile with a 96.8 mph average velocity on his heater and in the 97th percentile for fastball spin while holding hitters to a .102 BA and .119 SLG on his four-seamer. The 26-year-old continued to shine in the postseason, turning in a 1.80 ERA with 39 strikeouts over 25 innings. There may be a handful of pitchers chosen ahead of Buehler in your fantasy draft; if he gets to you in the second round, run a celebratory lap around your home.
Buehler didn't take many days off, posting the first of what should be many 30-start campaigns. Early, the Dodgers limited Buehler's in-game workload as he's just two years removed from Tommy John surgery and they wanted their prized righty fresh for the playoffs. Buehler did his part, allowing just one run in 12.2 postseason frames, but his club of course came up short. With Buehler fronting their rotation, the Dodgers' championship window remains wide open. The 25-year-old right-hander deploys a four-pitch arsenal, featuring a 97-mph fastball he used 60% of the time along with a slider, cutter and curve evenly split the rest of the time. The result was a 3.26 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, with a 24.2 K-BB%, seventh best among qualified starters. Most will group Gerrit Cole, Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer together. Buehler belongs in the next tier, perhaps even at the top.
Buehler was a blast to watch pitch as a rookie in 2018 as he showcased an electric fastball along with two different breaking balls. It was easy to see why he was a first-round draft pick and it is going to be hard to restrain ourselves this draft season in chasing him for our rosters. However, that pursuit should be exercised with an amount of caution. Buehler already has one Tommy John surgery under his belt, which limited the amount of pitching he could do in the minor leagues. Those restrictions were not present last season as Buehler threw a total of 173 innings, nearly doubling his total from 2017. At age 24, to have a workload jump of that size is a risk to keep in mind if you decide you are all in on rostering the young flamethrower. Everything else we want to see in a young future ace is here (21.1% K-BB, 50% GB%), and the team context is certainly favorable.
The 2016 season ended with whispers and a five-inning sample that suggested Buehler could be in for a breakout 2017. He delivered on that promise, and then some. Buehler, who underwent Tommy John surgery after being selected with the No. 24 pick in the 2015 draft, returned at the end of 2016 throwing harder than ever, sitting in the mid-90s and touching 99 mph with his fastball -- a byproduct of the Dodgers’ weighted ball program. He maintained that velocity over his first full pro season while also showing off a plus-plus curveball and hard low-90s cutter/slider. That pitch mix was predictably deadly against minor-league hitters, catapulting Buehler to the majors for a September run as a reliever. Given Buehler’s velocity jump and injury history, he seems a bit riskier than other top pitching prospects, but his upside is undeniable. The Dodgers will likely allow him to throw around 135 innings this season, presumably beginning the year at Triple-A. If he shows improved control, he could spend most of the summer pitching every fifth day in the big leagues.
The Dodgers took a calculated gamble when they selected Buehler with the 24th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Once considered a likely top-10 pick, a pre-draft elbow issue caused him to fall, and he ended up needing Tommy John surgery that August. Buehler returned to the mound late last season, and while he only logged five innings of game action, the early returns suggest the Dodgers may have hit big on their roll of the dice. He touched 99 mph with his fastball in instructs after sitting in the mid-90s during brief appearances in the Arizona and Midwest leagues. It is hard to expect him to maintain that velocity over lengthier outings in the coming years, but even if he settles in at 93-95 mph with his fastball, that makes for a plus offering. He also features a potentially plus curveball and a hard slider/cutter that could be a third plus pitch. An average changeup could round out the repertoire, and at that point Buehler would look the part of a No. 2 starter.
The team's top draft pick in the 2015 amateur draft (24th overall), Buehler dropped a bit down teams' boards due to an elbow injury last spring, and the injury ultimately led to Tommy John surgery this past August. When healthy, the 6-foot-2 Buehler features a mid-90s fastball, slider, curve, and changeup with solid command and the ability to miss bats. Buehler's last 14 starts for Vanderbilt resulted in an 81:25 K:BB over 78.2 innings. He seems likely to miss most, if not all of the 2016 season recuperating, but it is possible he could join a full-season affiliate late in the year, or he could pitch in the Arizona Fall League. Once healthy, he has the ability to move quickly as a college draftee and settle in as a No. 3 big league starter. He's won a College World Series and a Cape Cod Championship, a pedigree that the Dodgers certainly hope carries over.
More Fantasy News
Penciled in for Game 3
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 26, 2024
Buehler will start Monday against the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
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Confirmed as Game 3 starter
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 14, 2024
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Monday that Buehler will start Wednesday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Mets, Nick Hamilton of SiriusXM reports.
ANALYSIS
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Not starting Game 2
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 13, 2024
Buehler isn't expected to pitch in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday as the Dodgers opt for a bullpen game, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
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Starting status for Game 2 uncertain
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 13, 2024
Manager Dave Roberts explained Sunday that Buehler's likelihood of starting Game 2 of the NLCS versus the Mets could depend on how heavily the team deploys the bullpen in Game 1, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Set to start Game 3
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 6, 2024
Buehler is expected to start Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Padres on Tuesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Landing spot with Rangers?
PLos Angeles Dodgers  
October 27, 2024
The Rangers could attempt to sign Buehler to a one-year pillow contract in free agency, reports Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News.
ANALYSIS
The right-hander returned to the mound this season after missing all of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he had a difficult regular season with a 5.38 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 64:28 K:BB over 75.1 innings, which is by far the worst showing of his MLB career. Buehler has given up six runs across his two playoff starts and is set to start Game 3 of the World Series against the Yankees on Monday. It's an unfortunate time for the 30-year-old to enter free agency, so he'll likely look for a one-year deal in hopes of re-establishing his value and hitting the market again next year.
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