The Philadelphia Phillies have made several notable roster moves this season. At the trade deadline, they picked up Harrison Bader and Jhoan Duran, while free agency brought in David Robertson and top star, giving the team a different look compared to Opening Day.
Among those newcomers, top all-star’s role for October remains the biggest question mark. The ex-Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star had a tough season with the Boston Red Sox before being released in late August, only to be signed by the Phillies just two days later.
Buehler has already turned in one strong start for the Phillies, but the bigger question is what his role will look like once the postseason arrives. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the team has made a clear and definitive call on Buehler’s status, locking in exactly where he fits on the roster as October approaches.
The Phillies decide on Walker Buehler’s postseason role
Matt Gelb of The Athletic notes that while Buehler remains an intriguing arm, the Phillies have no intention of using him as a starter this postseason. If the team advances to the NLCS and needs a fourth starter, that job will almost certainly go to Aaron Nola.
That means Buehler, a career-long starter, will instead be shifted to the bullpen alongside Taijuan Walker. Philadelphia has already begun testing this role, lining up a “Walker-to-Buehler” combo against the Diamondbacks, with Walker starting and Buehler coming on in extended relief.
For most of his career, Buehler has been a rotation fixture—155 regular-season games and 19 postseason appearances with only 11 not as a starter. His lone playoff outing out of the bullpen came in 2024, when he famously closed out the World Series for the Dodgers against the Yankees.
Prior to joining the Phillies, Buehler endured a rough season in Boston, posting a 5.45 ERA across 22 starts. His Philadelphia debut was far better—five innings of one-run ball against the Royals, where he allowed five hits, a walk, and struck out three in a win.
Despite that solid outing, the Phillies are committed to keeping him in relief for October. With four set starters, Buehler is at best the team’s fifth or sixth option in the rotation—roles that don’t carry weight in the postseason. Instead, the Phillies hope his track record, including a 3.04 ERA in 19 playoff games, helps him thrive as a long reliever during their World Series push.