Walker “Buetane” Buehler’s edge is impressing Padres
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Walker Buehler’s first season in San Diego has delivered plenty of ups and downs.
The veteran opened the year with failure after failure and posted a 4.88 ERA through May. His inconsistent campaign continued as he recorded a 1.71 ERA in June, then a 9.82 ERA in July.
Joe Musgrove has hit setbacks in his rehab, so the longtime Dodger “Buetane” Buehler looks increasingly likely to claim a role in San Diego’s playoff rotation if the team locks up a Wild Card spot in late September. His deadly cutter has become a knockout punch against batters, yet Buehler’s best assets may prove to be his intangibles — postseason experience, leadership, and unfiltered emotion for the game.
From 2017 to 2024 in Los Angeles, Buehler grew into a star. A two-time All-Star, he played a crucial role in each of the Dodgers’ World Series runs. The right-hander sealed the final outs against New York in 2024. While he established himself as a premier starter in the regular season, his playoff numbers are what truly jump off the page.
In 19 postseason appearances, Buehler has racked up 114 strikeouts in just 94.2 innings and posted a 3.04 ERA. Those numbers include two World Series victories and a save. His 2024 save that sealed the World Series highlights his clutch ability and the consistent trust managers have placed in him throughout his career.
By comparison, the rest of San Diego’s starting pitching — Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, and Randy Vasquez — have combined for only 53 postseason innings started. Although he has pitched inconsistently in 2026, Buehler’s ability to perform under pressure remains priceless. You cannot teach postseason experience and success.
Buehler’s former pitching coach in Los Angeles once said of Buehler, “There’s no other guy that I trust more than in a big game, big spot.” If San Diego can even get half of that reliability from the two-time champ, they will be in good shape.
These credentials also illustrate the leadership Buehler brings to the locker room and rotation. A pitcher who has both extensive playoff experience and proven success represents a massive asset. Someone like Buehler can coach and advise other starters throughout the postseason. The 6-foot-2 right-hander became a villain in San Diego precisely because of that success — and specifically his playoff success. Dodgers’ starter Tyler Glasnow once said of Buehler upon his arrival to Los Angeles that “[Buehler] just looked like this mellow, kind of just a chill, regular dude. And then you meet him. He’s definitely got an edge — just has some dog in him for sure.” A clubhouse favorite throughout his career, he is a reminder that winning fixes things.
Buehler is also known to channel his emotions into his play, a quality that can help at times. The Friars feature nonchalant superstars such as Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, but Buehler wears his heart on his sleeve. This season alone, he has displayed that emotion multiple times. While, if not handled correctly, it can be a distraction, it can also fire up a pitching staff and help the team push through big moments. Past teammates have attested to this exactly.
In 2019, then-teammate Gavin Lux called him “the most confident human being on the planet” after he earned the Game 1 postseason start for Los Angeles—even over Clayton Kershaw. Six innings and one hit later, Buehler proved why. His then-shortstop Trea Turner said, “[Buehler] loves the spotlight. He loves pitching big games. He loves this atmosphere. He answers the bell every time.” These comments underscore how Buehler channels emotion into focus and heat on the mound while reinforcing his leadership. Baseball fans know energy proves infectious in a locker room, vibes matter, and the hottest team, not always the best on paper, often wins.
San Diego’s greatest sports successes have been marked by emotion. Junior Seau. Phillip Rivers. Eric Weddle. Tony Gwynn. Great leaders who were never afraid to show emotion. Buehler has been up and down this season, but he is the epitome of what makes a San Diego great. Now it’s time to show the rest of the league why this October.
Billy has spent a majority of his life following San Diego sports and worked in San Diego for many years. Now residing in Newport Beach he recently obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Chapman University and now works as an Associate Personal Injury Attorney. Billy enjoys supporting the Padres and SDFC from Orange County and making the drive down for big games. He is passionate about analytics and writing about sports.