The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets after an 8-0 victory in Game 3 at Citi Field on Wednesday. While the Dodgers were leading coming into the eighth inning, the struggling Shohei Ohtani broke the game open with a big three-run homer, sending Los Angeles two wins away from the World Series. After losing Game 2, they rallied by pitching their fourth shutout in the last five playoff games. Meanwhile, Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler addressed free agency rumors and his availability in key playoff games.
“Being in big games is all I care about, as we discussed before the San Diego start.” There’s the analytics and free agency and all that s**t, but I want 25 players in the locker room to believe I give us a really good chance to win,” Buehler said after the game, according to Dodgers writer Matthew Moreno on X (previously Twitter).
NLCS Game 3: Dodgers def. Mets, Dodgers lead series 2-1
Winning Game 3 of their seven-game NLCS series gives the Dodgers a significant lead over the Mets. This win gives them some breathing room and the ability to take control of the series, regardless of what happens in Game 4.
However, the best way to deal with a triumph like this is to stay focused on the next one. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts concurred, pointing to his team’s focus this playoffs.
“These guys are locked in,” the skipper told the Associated Press. “And they understand they have a responsibility to prevent runs. And I believe we’re playing good defense.”
Meanwhile, Walker Buehler struck out Mets star Francisco Lindor, leaving the bases loaded in the second inning. Walking off the mound, the pitcher yelled once in Lindor’s direction.
Roberts was also full of praise for his starting pitcher following the game.
“That was the pitch of the game,” the manager stated. “Clearly, the audience was into it. They were getting momentum. It was vital to bring the breaking ball down below the zone and strike out a strong hitter. And I believe that just speaks to experience.
Max Muncy, who launched his 13th career postseason homer in Game 3 to tie Corey Seager and Justin Turner for the Dodgers’ record, mirrored his manager’s thoughts on Buehler.
“Walker, he’s a different animal in the postseason,” Muncy joked. “I don’t care what [Buehler’s] regular-season results are, especially this year following his second Tommy John surgery. We all knew when we got into this situation that he was going to be Walker Buehler, and he was.”
It’s safe to say that Ohtani has lived up to his $700 million contract, and the Dodgers have also seen $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Can Walker Buehler enter free agency with another successful postseason, and even another World Series, under his belt?
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