Walker Buehler makes history by closing out the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dave Roberts had already burned through his bullpen, leaving himself with very few options as he tried to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the finish line.

The manager used six relief pitchers in the first eight innings of Game 5 thanks to Jack Flaherty’s bad startand this was 24 hours after he used four in Game 4. The New York Yankees were knocking on the door heading into the bottom of the ninth and Roberts needed someone who could step up and help the Dodgers. maintain a 7–6 lead.

Without more reliable backup players, Roberts chose starter Walker Buehler.

Bühler, who won the third game on Monday, he suddenly had the weight of an entire franchise on his shoulders in one day of rest. The 30-year-old right-hander made the most of this big moment and in doing so cemented his place in baseball history.

After forcing Anthony Volpe to land, Buehler knocked out Austin Wells and Alex Verdugo with a sweep. It gave Buehler his first save since 2017, when he was still in Triple-A, and the second championship ring of his career.

“I felt like I weighed about 5 pounds,” Buehler said. “I wish I had been in better shape so my heart could have handled it better, but it worked out.”

Buehler became just the eighth pitcher to record a win as a starting pitcher and a save in the same postseason series since saves became official in 1969, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. He is the fourth to do so in the World Series.

Madison Bumgarner was the last to achieve this feat, doing it with the San Francisco Giants back in 2014. Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter did it with the Oakland Athletics in 1974, and Jack Billingham did it with the Cincinnati Reds in 1972.

Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery midway through 2022 and ultimately missed the entire 2023 campaign. He didn’t return to the major league pitching lineup until May 2024, and he went just 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA, 1.553 WHIP and -1.3 WAR in 16 regular-season starts when he was healthy.

However, in the postseason, Buehler returned to his pre-injury form. He went 1-1 in October with a 3.60 ERA and 1.133 WHIP, so it’s only fitting that he was able to close things out for the Dodgers.

Buehler will become a free agent this winter. Considering everything he’s done for Los Angeles over the last nine years – especially Wednesday night – he’s achieved legendary status in the Dodgers history books, no matter what happens next.

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