PHILADELPHIA — Walker Buehler will let others debate his postseason role.
The Phillies starting pitcher made his case Thursday night. Without his best stuff, Buehler threw five shutout innings as the Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 1-0 before 36,265 fans at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s above my pay grade, man,” Buehler said when asked if he could start in the playoffs. “I’m here to win a world title, and whatever piece I can be in that — from a starting pitcher to a cheerleader — I really don’t care. I haven’t been here really long, but I’ve really enjoyed this team. Next time we celebrate, I want to feel like I was a part of it. Whatever they ask me to do.”
The Phillies (94-65) will begin the National League Division Series on Oct. 4. Philadelphia will need just three starters for that series and they figure to be lefties Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo.
If Philadelphia advances to the NL Championship Series, it will need a fourth starter.
They also could use a long man if one of the left-handers gets roughed up in the NLDS.
That’s where Buehler, Taijuan Walker and Aaron Nola come in.
Buehler, Nola and Walker are basically auditioning for postseason roles in these final few regular season games.
Buehler allowed three hits with three walks and two strikeouts Thursday.
“The way I’ve always thought about the game is when you’re not good, you should still be able to be good,” Buehler said. “But given the last two years, it’s a little bit harder for me to deal with. But I think in some way a night like tonight for me is a huge step forward and something that I can build off of.”
He threw 74 pitches during the game but then went to the bullpen to throw about 20 more.
“Every pitch in the playoffs is a little bit more,” he said. “I think if you throw 100 during the regular season, you’re ready to throw 75 or 80 in the playoffs.”
Once Buehler left, Walker entered and threw two shutout innings, allowing a hit with two walks and three strikeouts.
“Three strikeouts from Taijuan, which was encouraging to me,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He missed some bats. Split was really good.”
Nola will make his final regular season start Friday against the Minnesota Twins.
The Phillies signed Buehler as a free agent on Aug. 31 two days after the Boston Red Sox released him.
He was 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA in Boston. Buehler has allowed one earned run in 13 2/3 innings for the Phillies.
Philadelphia liked Buehler’s postseason experience.
He was 4-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 19 playoff appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in two outings to help the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in last year’s World Series.
“He doesn’t scare,” Thomson said.
Contact: 609-272-7209
MMcGarry@PressofAC.com
X @ACPressMcGarry
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Mike McGarry
Staff Writer
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