For most of the season, Walker Buehler didn’t seem ready for the postseason. He struggled with his command on the mound and fans began to wonder if he would ever be back in full form. On Thursday night, he proved he still has what it takes to pitch in October.

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West division with a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Buehler allowed just one run in five innings against the Padres. His 71-pitch performance is what the Dodgers were hoping to see from the right-hander.

After returning from his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler has posted a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts. The 30-year-old pitcher has a strikeout rate of 18.6 percent. His numbers don’t resemble the lights-out pitcher he once was.

However, a new version of Buehler appeared on Thursday evening.

While Buehler was showered with champagne, he was candid when SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson asked the right-hander Thursday night what worked for him on the mound.

“Nothing really. I hit one guy,” Buehler said lightly. “I’ve had a tough year. There’s one thing I’ve always hung my hat on: pitching in big games.”

He said what most Dodgers fans had been thinking all season. Buehler has had a tough time, that’s true. But Thursday night, in the biggest game of the year, he looked better than he has all season.

“This is what I live for,” Buehler said.

Buehler or rookie Landon Knack will likely be the third starter of a reduced Dodgers rotation for October.

Despite his struggles this season, the Dodgers still believed Buehler could play an important role for the team in October.

On Thursday night, Buehler reminded everyone of the kind of pitcher he is.

“For us this is a play-off match. The number two team in the division – us, who kind of keeps our destiny if we win the game, we win the division – that’s what gets me going,” Buehler told AM 570 LA Sports. “I’m ecstatic. The team has carried me and made me tread water for a long time, and it’s a nice feeling to have a good feeling.”

The club has won the title in the eleventh division for the past twelve years. Obviously the Dodgers are no strangers to this feat, but something was different Thursday night.

The team exuded an energy and passion that fans longed to see from players. It was a big moment and the Dodgers embraced it.

Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn images

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