NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 7, 2024

Walker Buehler

Petco Park

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. In your final regular season outing, not only was it quite a really good one, but do you feel like, with what this year looked like for you with each building block you talked about, did it feel like everything came together in that outing? And how do you hope to build off of that one in your start tomorrow?

WALKER BUEHLER: I don't know if I'd say, like, everything came together. Obviously a successful outing, but some of the other stuff that we look at outside of just innings and runs and stuff like that wasn't quite where I wanted it to be.

But the past month and a half or so I felt pretty good and kind of got into more of a routine. I think being able to go on regular rest helped. At least mentally knowing you can do that, I think, is a step forward for me.

Now all that stuff is kind of behind us. And now all that really matters is innings and the runs and trying to keep us in the game.

This time of year is just a little bit different and kind of, at least for me, time to kind of leave what happened in the regular season behind.

Q. Last night, obviously emotions got high. You're an emotional pitcher. How do you control all that tomorrow when you take the mound?

WALKER BUEHLER: I don't know if for me control is -- is not really the goal. I think embracing it or channelling it because it's going to happen. And especially here, obviously, being an hour and a half up the road, it kind of tends to lead to that kind of stuff.

The energy of our fans and their fans is something that all of us kind of live for in some way. Having done this playoff thing a few times, I think hopefully I learned how to channel that a little bit and make it productive for yourself instead of kind of detrimental.

I'm looking forward to it. It's always fun to play in a big, packed place. And everyone's got intensity and energy and all that stuff.

Q. How much does the first inning mean to just the setting the tone for the rest of the game to put up a 0 and maybe you guys even score before you even take the mound?

WALKER BUEHLER: Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of faith in our offense and probably the best player in the world leading off for us. We always feel good first at-bat of the game on the road.

And for me this year has been huge this year. Obviously I've struggled in the first innings, but the games I've gotten through the first clean have been pretty successful outings for me. So getting three outs in the bottom of the first will be huge for me.

Q. How much did you miss pitching in October the last couple of years? And when you look back at some of your postseason success, what have been the keys to performing well this time of year for you?

WALKER BUEHLER: I mean, the same thing. Trying to channel the energy I think is the huge thing and understanding that each game is its own kind of war, right? In the regular season it's 162 games and there's this. You give up four in the first two innings and you've got to wear it and protect the bullpen.

In the playoffs, it's not necessarily that way. I think every game is obviously super important. But the way we play, the way we manage it is different than it is in the regular season. And so you're out there trying to throw punches as long as you can. And trying to keep the momentum I think is such a huge part of the playoffs.

We have seen how both the games here, whatever team kind of grabs the momentum late, can hold it and keep it. And that kind of leads to wins and losses more so, I think, than it does in the regular season. That's always been my focus, just trying to create momentum or at least don't give it away.

Q. When you look at the year, like, how tough was it especially as you're trying to work through delivery stuff and figure out where you're at physically, was it tough even within starts to not get hung up on bad pitches? And is it easier to kind of move past when those things happen in a postseason environment, where, like you said, it's just kind of moving to the next pitch?

WALKER BUEHLER: I don't think it's any easier or any harder. I think it's all the same thing. I think part of my struggles for sure was kind of wanting to do it as easy as I felt like I used to do it -- not that playing this game at this level is ever easy.

But in 2020, 2021 there were times that the game felt like I knew what I was doing. And this year there were times that I really didn't.

But as I said earlier, the last six weeks I've kind of felt a little bit closer to myself. And I think that gives you the confidence to kind of go and do the things you want to do.

I think when you're stuck in a mechanic or in that struggle, there's not enough confidence in the ability to do the things that you want to do. And you just get caught in between a lot. For me that stuff has kind of faded recently.

Q. How would you describe the magnitude of tomorrow's game knowing that you don't want to put yourself in a hole where you would face that possible elimination in Game 4?

WALKER BUEHLER: We play in these games every year. Every team that plays in the playoffs plays in a game the swing game or the big momentum game. And I just happen to be starting this one.

If I'm Game 6, Game 7, Game 3, Game whatever, I've thrown in all these games. That's not the stuff I get super wrapped up in. I want to try and go make a quality start and put our team in a position to win the game.

Q. How have you seen this rivalry develop over the years, the last five or six? And does a game last night, where the emotions spill into the competition, almost play into the Padres hands more than the Dodgers?

WALKER BUEHLER: I mean, first part, obviously my first couple of years, the San Diego Padres were not the same team as they are now. We've seen that develop.

Obviously Manny leaving us and going to them -- not from a rivalry side, but just in terms of the talent that they've started acquiring, I think, has definitely been significant.

And the past few years have definitely been fun kind of -- not for me, not playing -- but '21 and '20, the playoffs and things like that, it's been cool.

I think anytime our division keeps getting better, it makes this season more interesting and more fun. The second part of that, I think maybe you can talk about the momentum of a game like that. If we were playing today, I think the off day is probably beneficial in terms of kind of getting everybody back to neutral. I think largely obviously Manny and Jack and that kind of stuff.

But the biggest realm in that game was the stuff on the field and getting thrown on there, at least for me. We'll see what happens. I know it's going to be pretty rowdy here tomorrow. At some point, if you can't handle that, you're not going to win a World Series anyway.

I think it will be a big test for us and a big positive, hopefully, to come out of it successfully.

Q. How much pride do you take in being labeled a "big game" pitcher?

WALKER BUEHLER: It's kind of the only thing I care about.