Buehler earns first career Opening Day nod

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A few days ago, Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler stood in front of his locker inside the home clubhouse at Camelback Ranch, sporting a Clayton Kershaw “Public Enemy No. 1” T-shirt. When asked about it, Buehler said that as long as Kershaw is around the team, he still believes the future Hall of Famer is the team’s ace.

But with what Buehler has accomplished on the mound over the past few years -- especially during a stellar 2021 season -- the 27-year-old has earned the label “ace” attached to his name.

On Thursday, manager Dave Roberts made it official and told Buehler that the honor was finally his. For the first time in his career, Buehler will be the Dodgers' Opening Day starter on April 8 against the Rockies at Coors Field.

With the way the schedule lines up, Buehler will also likely pitch the team’s home opener on April 14 against the Reds. Buehler received the honor of pitching in the home opener in 2021 -- the same day the Dodgers received their ‘20 World Series rings.

“I think we all dream of getting to the big leagues, and I think for me, everything else besides that has been icing on the cake,” Buehler said. “But it’s a cool opportunity and an honor, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Buehler will be the first Dodgers pitcher to make an Opening Day start with a healthy Kershaw on the roster since right-hander Vicente Padilla took the mound in 2010 against the Pirates. Dustin May got the Opening Day start in ‘20, but that came after Kershaw was scratched due to back stiffness.

Roberts said the decision of who would start Opening Day could’ve gone either way between Kershaw and Buehler. It would have been Kershaw’s franchise-leading 10th Opening Day start. Instead, the Dodgers felt that with what Buehler accomplished last season, the timing was right for him to make his first Opening Day start.

“Obviously, his run here of Opening Days and being as good as he’s been is something that we’re all extremely envious of and look up to him in a lot of ways,” Buehler said. “It’s kind of cool to be the next guy that does it.”

Following a strong 2021 season, Buehler has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League. The two-time All-Star went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA last season, and he made all of his scheduled starts (33) for the first time in his career. Buehler also pitched a career-high 207 2/3 innings, going into at least the sixth inning 29 times.

In the postseason, Buehler also didn’t shy away from being the team’s workhorse. He made four starts, two of them coming on three days’ rest. This season, the Dodgers are going to look for similar production out of him as they look to win the NL West.

“Walker has a very good balance of respect for the game, the players that have earned that right and Clayton in particular,” Roberts said. “You could have argued the last couple years, he could have been the Opening Day start ... but I think right now is the time for him to take the ball on Opening Day.”