Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler proposed to serve as a reliever before Game 5 of the World Series, despite having pitched just two days earlier.
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman initially declined Buehler’s offer, considering it a risky decision.
Early in Game 5, starter Jack Flaherty struggled, allowing four runs in just 1.1 innings, putting the Dodgers at a disadvantage.
The Yankees took a commanding 5-0 lead, prompting the Dodgers’ coaching staff to strategize for Game 6 and consider moving up starter Yabu Yamamoto.
Buehler re-entered the conversation, asking if the situation was “shaky enough,” leading Friedman to give him the green light to pitch.
A Yankees error allowed the Dodgers to tie the game with five runs in the fifth inning, shifting the momentum in their favor.
Buehler closed out the game in the ninth inning, striking out two players, including former Dodger Alex Verdugo, securing the World Series title for the Dodgers.