What was scheduled to be a three-inning / 45-pitch Cactus League debut for Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler, ended up being 2.2 innings and 46 pitches against the Cleveland Indians at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday night.

Although the line score shows that the 24-year-old Lexington, Kentucky native was charged with one run on three hits, Buehler struck out two and walked none, while consistently hitting 96-98 MPH (and 99 once) on the Camelback Ranch Radar gun.

“A little erratic, a little kind of all over the place but that’s what these games are for,” Buehler told reporters after his spring training debut. “For me it’s just kind of the whole bag, just trying to get a little bit of feel for everything and we did that tonight.”

As for his velocity, the young right-hander says it’s right where he wants to be with it.

“Yeah, close,” he said. “I think obviously 45,000 in the stands helps a little bit, but you know, we’re close, and that’s fine.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was also very pleased with Buehler’s first major league live-game action of the spring.

“I thought Walker was where we had hoped he would be tonight,” Roberts said. “I thought he was amped up, rightfully so, and missing up. But as far as the way the ball was coming out, I thought … very pleased.

“For us to get two and two-thirds and build that pitch-count up, I think it was a positive night for him and for us,” Roberts added. “The second inning I think he settled down, was better in the second and third inning, so a very good night.”

Roberts said that Buehler would probably make his next start on Monday (March 25) against the Angels in Anaheim during the Freeway Series. The Dodgers skipper added that he also expects Buehler pitch in the season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

A very good night indeed, I’d say.

Play Ball!

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