Buehler: Hard year doesn't matter when 'stakes are that big'

It's been a tough year for Walker Buehler, but the Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander felt like none of it mattered during his impressive outing in Wednesday's victory over the New York Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS.

"It's been a hard year for me," Buehler told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports after the 8-0 win.

"When the stakes are that big, I think for me it makes everything else feel really small, whatever failures I had throughout the year are kind of gone ... These are the games I'm here to pitch."

Buehler held the Mets scoreless over four innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. The 30-year-old also recorded 18 swings and misses, the most through the first four innings of a postseason game since 2008.

His biggest moment came during the second inning when he struck out Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor consecutively to get out of a bases-loaded jam.

Buehler posted a career-worst 5.38 ERA during the regular season, his first year pitching after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He also dealt with a hip ailment during the campaign.

However, Buehler said his issues from the regular season weren't on his mind Wednesday.

"We talked about it before the San Diego start, the big games or me being in big games, that's literally all I care about," Buehler said.

"The way Kiké (Hernandez) talks about our team having some sort of confidence when I pitch, regardless, I think is kind of really the goal for any starting pitcher. There's the stats and free agency and all this (stuff), but I want 25 guys in the locker room that believe I give us a really good chance to win."