Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler earned his sixth loss of the season on Saturday in another subpar outing for the 30-year-old. Facing the Colorado Rockies at home, Buehler allowed five hits, four earned runs and one walk while striking out nine in the Dodgers’ 6-3 loss to the Rockies.

The poor performance came after one of Buehler’s best games in his previous start against the Atlanta Braves. Last Sunday in Atlanta, Buehler threw six innings and allowed three hits, two runs (one earned) and five walks while striking out five. He helped the Dodgers earn a 9-2 victory over the Braves.

Despite another less-than-stellar start for Buehler, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has the most confidence he has in Buehler all season.

“This is the most confidence I’ve had in Walker this year,” Roberts said, via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “I believe it was there, but of course he has to have some success to believe that. I think with nine strikeouts and running the baseball the way he is, I feel very confident that he will start a playoff game for us.”

Buehler recorded a season-high nine strikeouts to start, his highest total since striking out seven twice in May. Buehler got hitters swinging multiple times with his fastball and curveball, which Roberts also found encouraging.

The main issue for Buehler on Saturday was his performance in the early innings. He gave up three of four earned runs in the first two innings. In a fresh start against the Chicago Cubs earlier this month, Buehler allowed three earned runs in the first inning.

“He creates some stress in the first inning,” Roberts said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get that clean first inning because it looks like he’s finding his stride in the third, fourth and fifth inning.”

With the Dodgers’ starting rotation decimated by injuries, there is a very real chance Buehler starts for the team in the postseason. While Roberts has expressed confidence in Buehler, he has yet to show consistency since returning from Tommy John surgery this year. He is 1-6 this season with a 5.63 ERA and 63 strikeouts.

The expectation is that the Dodgers will definitely start Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the postseason. Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow are unlikely to return. Clayton Kershaw’s prospects are doubtful. This leaves open spots in the postseason starting rotation that Buehler could likely fill at this point.