Following Walker Buehler's first start of the 2024 postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it looked like he would have difficulty finding a multi-year deal in free agency. After posting a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts during the regular season, he was lit up for six earned runs in one inning in Game 3 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. He pitched five innings without recording so much as one strikeout.
What a drastically different story in his next three appearances, though, going a combined 10 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts, including the World Series-clinching save in Game 5.