After yet another productive offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be hungry to chase a World Series title in 2022. With Freddie Freeman joining an already scary lineup consisting of Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, and Trea Turner, among others, this team is going to be a force in the National League.
Although Betts is one of their most important offensive players, the Dodgers also have a scary rotation, headlined by Clayton Kershaw and ace Walker Buehler. Many would think Betts is the X-factor for LA this season, but it's not.
It's Buehler.
Dodgers X-factor in 2022 season
Buehler has solidified himself as a top-five starting pitcher in the big leagues and is coming off easily his best season yet as a Major Leaguer. In 2021, Buehler led the Dodgers staff, going 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA in an MLB-best 33 starts, striking out 212 hitters in 207.2 innings of work. Every fifth day, Dave Roberts had the utmost confidence in handing the former Vanderbilt star the ball. Buehler also finished fourth in Cy Young voting, while making the All-Star team.
Roberts has already announced Buehler as the Opening Day starter for the Dodgers and he's clearly the future of the rotation with Kershaw aging. Sure, the lefty is still a crucial piece, but Buehler is young, electric, and full of fire. If he can stay healthy, there is no question Buehler will be in the Cy Young mix again.
Honestly, this kid is extremely hard to square up. From his deceptive delivery to a wide array of pitches in his arsenal, Buehler is a nightmare for opposing hitters. Not only can he pump fastballs in the high 90's consistently, but then he can buckle a hitter's kneecaps with a curveball or slider. Don't forget a low 90s cutter and mid-90s sinker. Essentially, everything the Dodgers righty throws is hard. Even more impressive, he can command typically all of these offerings.
Buehler gave up just 52 free passes in 2021, which translates to 2.3 walks per nine innings. What makes him such a stud is his ability to pound the strike zone and either rack up the strikeouts or pitch to contact. With an All-Star defense behind him, he's got nothing to worry about in that regard.
The hard-throwing Buehler has also established himself as a big-game pitcher already in his Dodgers career. Yes, he's going to be so important throughout the course of a 162-game season, but in the postseason, Buehler is just as lights out. He possesses a 2.94 ERA in 15 playoff starts and in the Fall Classic, the 27-year-old has shined, posting an ERA under one in 13 innings, also striking out 17.
The Dodgers should have no problems winning the National League West in 2022 after the Giants lost several key pieces. Another World Series run should be in the cards as long as their extremely talented roster lives up to the hype. But, Walker Buehler's ability to set the tone for the entire rotation will prove to be crucial. Given what he's already done in his young MLB career, there's little doubt Buehler will continue to shine and dominate oppositions on a weekly basis.
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