BREAKING: Dodgers’ Pitcher drops ‘free agency’ message after taming Mets
The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in their NLCS series against the New York Mets with an emphatic 8-0 victory in Game 3 at Citi Field on Wednesday. Although the Dodgers already had control of the game, a struggling Shohei Ohtani blew things wide open with a three-run homer in the eighth inning, pushing LA just two wins away from a World Series appearance. After dropping Game 2, the Dodgers responded with their fourth shutout in the last five postseason games.
Dodgers pitcher also addressed speculation surrounding his free agency and his focus on delivering in high-stakes playoff situations.
“We talked about it before the San Diego start, me being in big games, that’s literally all I care about… There’s the stats and free agency and all this stuff, but I want 25 guys 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 (formerly Twitter).
NLCS Game 3: Dodgers def. Mets, Dodgers lead series 2-1
Winning Game 3 of the NLCS gives the Dodgers a significant advantage over the Mets, as they now hold a 2-1 lead in the series. This victory provides them with some breathing room and a chance to take control of the series regardless of the outcome in Game 4.
However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emphasized the importance of staying focused and maintaining momentum. “These guys are locked in,” Roberts said, according to a report from the Associated Press. “And they understand they have a job to do to prevent runs. And I think we’re playing good defense, too.”
Walker Buehler delivered one of the game’s defining moments, striking out Mets star Francisco Lindor with the bases loaded in the second inning. Walking off the mound, Buehler showed his intensity, shouting once in Lindor’s direction. Roberts praised Buehler’s poise in the pressure-filled moment, calling it the “pitch of the game.”
“Obviously, the crowd was into it. They were gaining momentum. To get the breaking ball down below the zone and get a great hitter out was huge,” Roberts said. “I think that just kind of speaks to experience.”
Max Muncy, who hit his 13th career postseason home run to tie the Dodgers record set by Corey Seager and Justin Turner, also commended Buehler. “Walker, he’s a different animal in the postseason,” Muncy remarked. “I don’t care what [Buehler’s] regular-season numbers are, especially this year coming off the second Tommy John (surgery). We all knew once we got into this setting he was going to be Walker Buehler, and he was definitely that tonight.”
With Shohei Ohtani living up to his $700-million contract and rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto also shining for the Dodgers, the question now is whether Buehler can carry this strong postseason performance into free agency. Another deep playoff run, potentially capped with a World Series title, could certainly boost his stock as he approaches the open market.