ANAHEIM -- After questions about what the Dodgers¡¯ pitching staff could look like in October, manager Dave Roberts gives the same answer nearly every time.

¡°Performance will dictate everything,¡± Roberts is quick to say, including before Tuesday¡¯s game against the Angels.

It¡¯s a simple, but clear, message from Roberts. With a starting staff dealing with a multitude of injuries, the Dodgers don¡¯t yet know who will be their Game 1 starter in the postseason, much less the rest of the starting rotation. That brings a lot of uncertainty, but also a lot of opportunity.

Walker Buehler is among those players with a big opportunity ahead of them heading into the last few weeks of the season. Buehler delivered his second consecutive encouraging start, allowing two runs over five strong frames in the Dodgers¡¯ 6-2 win in 10 innings at Angel Stadium.

¡°From the last start, I thought it was even better in the sense of his composure,¡± Roberts said. ¡°I think right now, Walker¡¯s in compete mode. I think that it¡¯s important that, when you¡¯re in September, you¡¯ve got a few starts left until we get to the postseason, and him trying to find some traction and get to being the pitcher that he was.¡±

With Yoshinobu Yamamoto making his way back from injury and uncertainties surrounding how much the Dodgers will get from Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw down the stretch, the team is desperately needing a pair of starters to step up as it gets ready for the postseason.

Jack Flaherty and Gavin Stone give L.A. two solid options right now. Bobby Miller, like Buehler, will have to earn a role on the postseason staff. Getting some of the injured pitchers back would undoubtedly help, but the Dodgers aren¡¯t in a position to depend on them returning this season.

That gives Buehler an opportunity. On Tuesday, Buehler, once again, relied heavily on his curveball to get outs when needed, throwing it 25 times and getting three whiffs. Outside of solo homers to Logan O¡¯Hoppe and Taylor Ward, Buehler was in control of the Angels¡¯ lineup, striking out six and walking just two.

¡°I think these past two starts, obviously the line doesn¡¯t reflect it last time, but starting to get some punchouts and all of that kind of stuff [is good] and I think for me, it¡¯s all these little tiny boxes checked,¡± Buehler said. ¡°I feel like myself and I feel like I can go and throw the ball well. And tonight wasn¡¯t my best game ever, but for right now, I¡¯m pretty happy about it and confident and in four, five, six days, whatever we end up doing, I feel ready to take the ball and I feel like I can help us win.¡±

It¡¯s no secret that it¡¯s been a tough season for Buehler. He has spent more time on the injured list than on the mound. There have been moments when he has looked nothing like the pitcher the Dodgers grew accustomed to before his second Tommy John surgery.

But over the next two months, Buehler has a chance to erase what has happened. When asked how he measures progress over the next few weeks, Buehler quickly responded with ¡°performance.¡± That¡¯s ultimately going to determine how he¡¯s used in October. His last two outings have been his best ones this season.

¡°I would¡¯ve loved to have felt like this in April, you know what I mean?¡± Buehler said. ¡°But at the end of the day, I have a month to more so put the finishing touches on how I feel as a Major League starter and how I can help us win in the playoffs.¡±

After Buehler, the Dodgers¡¯ bullpen combined to toss five scoreless innings. That allowed the Dodgers to buy time until their dangerous offense was able to strike. In the 10th inning, after the Angels intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts delivered the dagger in front of a strong Dodgers contingency in the crowd, smashing a three-run homer off right-hander Roansy Contreras. It was the first time since 2016 a hitter in front of Betts was intentionally walked.

With the win, the Dodgers¡¯ lead atop the National League West is now 5 1/2 games.

¡°I was telling myself to get a good pitch to hit,¡± Betts said. ¡°Shohei doing what Shohei always does, I understand their perspective. So I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit.¡±