Don’t Trust Walker Buehler to Hold Down Diamondbacks Offense

A World Series hangover seems to have hit the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, but the ultra-talented defending champs are still four games over .500 heading into their series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Los Angeles will send Walker Buehler to the mound in this one, and the 26-year-old right hander has been solid this season posting a 3.45 earned run average through seven starts. 

Buehler has a player prop projection of 1.5 on earned runs on Monday with the over (-125) being favored to the under (-104). Arizona is in fourth place in the NL West, but it doesn’t mean their offense is going to roll over against Buehler. 

Arizona averages 4.73 runs per game this season which is good for eighth in MLB, and Buehler hasn’t exactly been lights out despite his 3.45 ERA. Buehler has allowed two or more runs in six of his seven starts this season which includes his last five starts heading into tonight.

He hasn’t been particularly sharp in his last three outings either as the 26-year-old has allowed 11 runs on 16 hits in his last 19.1 innings. The Dodgers right hander has also allowed one or more home runs in six of his seven starts this season, and he allowed three his last time out against the Seattle Mariners at home. 

The Dodgers gave Buehler an extra day of rest by pushing his start to Monday, and it could help him right the ship after arguably his worst outing of 2021.

Buehler could easily pick up a win or a quality start on Monday, but we’re having a hard time picking him to give up less than two earned runs for just the second time this season.