Padres Turn to Walker Buehler for Crucial Game 4 Against Brewers

The San Diego Padres have announced that veteran pitcher Walker Buehler will start Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. Buehler, who missed the first two games of the series while on the paternity list, returns to the rotation as the Padres face elimination, trailing the Brewers 2-1 in the series.

Buehler was activated on Monday, replacing fellow right-hander Randy Vásquez on the team's roster. This season, Buehler made 32 starts for the Padres, his highest total since 2021. He finished the regular season with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP over 153 ⅔ innings pitched, recording 131 strikeouts. This appearance marks his return to postseason play after a period away.

Across his career, the 32-year-old Buehler has made 18 starts and 19 appearances in the postseason, all with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played for seven seasons. He holds a career playoff ERA of 3.04 and a 1.15 WHIP, with 114 strikeouts in 94 ⅔ innings.

In Game 3, which the Padres won, ace Michael King pitched the final two innings. King's outing in the ninth inning was necessitated in part by closer Mason Miller being placed on the paternity list before the game. The Padres won Game 3 to avoid a sweep and are now seeking to force a decisive Game 5 and advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2022. If they advance, they would face the winner of the series between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves.