How Walker Buehler Got Back On Track Vs. Nationals

In the month of June, Walker Buehler allowed more earned runs than he had innings pitched.

He bashed himself after each start, and even said he wasn’t sure if he belonged in the big leagues. Buehler’s stats ranked him among the worst qualified pitchers in baseball.

While the game often passes veterans by, Buehler is less than a year removed from pitching in the World Series like the Cy Young candidate he once was. It’s not as if his velocity plummeted, either.

On Saturday, the righty put in an encouraging effort for the Boston Red Sox. He threw five innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits. He struck out just two, but notably didn’t issue any walks.

Improved command was the most evident change for Buehler. The zone rates of both his four-seam fastball and cutter were increased from his season averages, as was the strike rate.

He also changed his pitch mix. Buehler has thrown seven different pitches this season. On Saturday, he completely eliminated his changeup and only threw three sliders. He used his curveball as his primary pitch, and while it didn’t land in the strike zone frequently, he spotted it low and away from danger consistently. A shallower arsenal could have contributed to improved command by allowing Buehler to narrow his focus and execute more effectively.

The high curveball usage allowed him to attack in the zone with his fastballs. His cutter was effective on the inside part of the plate against lefties, setting up his sinker at the front hip. His four-seam still didn’t return any whiffs, but he limited non-competitive pitches and free passes.

Eight hits are still more than Buehler would like to allow, but the start was a step in the right direction. He’ll look to build on it against the Tampa Bay Rays in his next start.