Buehler (elbow) will not pitch for the Dodgers in 2023.
Buehler has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He threw two scoreless innings during his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. However, with the Dodgers shifting their focus to getting Buehler ready for the start of 2024, it's unclear whether the 29-year-old righty will continue making rehab appearances in the minors.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Next rehab start Friday
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Buehler (elbow) will make his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Buehler looked sharp in his rehab debut Sunday with OKC, tallying two strikeouts over two perfect innings in what was a 24-pitch outing against the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers. He's expected to make at least two more starts on the farm -- including Friday -- before possibly stepping in as a rotation replacement for Julio Urias following his weekend arrest on a felony domestic violence charge. Buehler is a little over 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Excels in first rehab start
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Buehler (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Buehler tossed 24 pitches (15 strikes) en route to retiring the side in the first and second innings. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News, Buehler's fastball sat between 93 and 96 miles per hour in the first inning, and he was able to mix in a cutter, slider, sinker and curveball to complement the heater. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Buehler will likely need at least two more rehab starts prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, making mid-to-late September the target for his 2023 debut with the Dodgers.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Rehab assignment set
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Buehler (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Buehler has been throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex since early August, though he'll make a long-awaited step forward to rehab games. He's expected to throw one or two innings in his first appearance and will need to make at least three starts before being activated. That could line Buehler up for a return in mid-to-late September, barring setbacks.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Still throwing in Arizona
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Buehler (elbow) will continue throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex in Arizona, as he has yet to toss more than one inning, per MLB.com.
Buehler began throwing to live hitters Aug. 9 and has continued to take part in one-inning simulated games. He appears to have avoided any setbacks, but the fact that he hasn't yet gone more than one frame suggests that he's still several weeks away from a return. Buehler will eventually need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's cleared to make his 2023 debut with the big-league club.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Will return as starter
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Buehler (elbow) will return as a traditional starting pitcher if he is able to make it back this season, manager Dave Roberts said Friday on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
The right-hander would be able to rejoin the Dodgers' staff more quickly if the goal was to use him initially in shorter stints, either as an opener or reliever, but Roberts said in this interview that the plan will be to build him up to four innings and/or 60 pitches. In his first time facing live hitters Wednesday since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler touched 93 mph with his fastball during a one-inning sim game. He won't be ready at the beginning of September, but Roberts said a return sometime that month is still a viable option.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Hits 93 mph in simulated game
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Buehler (elbow) touched 93 mph during a one-inning simulated game Wednesday at the Dodgers' spring training complex in Arizona, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
It's not the velocity Buehler usually sits at, but given it was the pitcher's first time facing hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery -- his second such procedure-- last August, he and the team were very encouraged. "It went really well," manager Dave Roberts said of the session. "Much better than I expected." Buehler has acknowledged that his original goal of returning on Sept. 1 isn't realistic, as he will require a few more simulated games before going out on a rehab assignment. However, the righty remains confident he'll be able to help the Dodgers in some capacity before the end of the regular season, whether it's in a starting or relief role.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Will face hitters this week
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Buehler (elbow) "will take the next step in his recovery by facing hitters in Arizona this week," Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
It was reported last week that Buehler was close to beginning a rehab assignment, and while it's unclear if he will officially start one in the coming days, he appears ready to take another step in his recovery. Expect the Dodgers to release another update on his status following his upcoming session.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Nearing rehab assignment
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Buehler (elbow) is "on the verge" of beginning a rehab assignment, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Buehler is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday in San Diego and could then head out next week to one of the Dodgers' minor-league affiliates as he prepares to return to live games. Roberts told reporters that they are expecting the 29-year-old back -- as a starting pitcher -- in the early part of September. He is closing in on the 12-month mark from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Making progress toward return
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Buehler (elbow) shared a video of himself throwing a bullpen session on his personal Instagram account last week.
Buehler has previously stated that he is aiming to be ready to join the Dodgers by Sept. 1, and his ability to throw bullpens is a promising indication that such a timeline may be feasible. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last August, so Los Angeles won't push him to move through the rehab process any faster than necessary. If Buehler does make it back to the big-league club in early September, his addition to the pitching staff could be a big boost to the team, though it's possible he could be used out of the bullpen given the length of his absence.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Aiming for early September return
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Buehler (elbow) said Tuesday that he's aiming for a Sept. 1 return from the 60-day injured list, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
As DiGiovanna notes, a return in September would mark a much shorter recovery than usual from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery, which Buehler underwent last August. The right-hander has already thrown a few bullpen sessions and could advance to facing hitters within the next month. Los Angeles will take all the necessary precautions with Buehler and there's no guarantee he pitches in a meaningful role if he does return in September. Nonetheless, his previous success makes him a name fantasy managers should keep a close eye on.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Throwing bullpen Monday
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Buehler (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions at the Dodgers' spring training facility in Arizona and will throw another Monday at Dodger Stadium, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Buehler continues to make strong progress while recovering from the Tommy John reconstructive surgery the right-hander underwent last summer. The 28-year-old has a chance to return to the Los Angeles staff in 2023, but it isn't likely to occur until the final few months of the season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Throws from 150 feet away
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Buehler (elbow) was seen throwing at Dodgers Stadium on Saturday and throwing from 150 feet away, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Buehler began his throwing program back in March, and he's now able to complete long toss as he works his way back from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery that he underwent in August. There is a chance for Buehler to help the Dodgers at the end of the 2023 season as a multi-inning reliever or possibly a starter if everything goes right, but any appearances that happen before September at this point are bonuses.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Begins throwing program
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Buehler (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.
Buehler made just a handful of flat-ground tosses from a distance of 60 feet, but it's a significant step forward nonetheless in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old right-hander had the procedure last August and obviously has many more months of rehab work ahead. If he does pitch for the Dodgers in 2023, it will probably only be a handful of innings in September/October.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Nearly ready to throw
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Buehler (elbow) will begin a throwing program within the next two weeks, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery in August, but he's yet to be officially ruled out for the upcoming season. He'd have to be on the faster end of the typical timeline to do so, and he's unlikely to throw more than a handful of innings, but it will give him something to work toward throughout the year as he continues his recovery.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Not ruled out for 2023
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Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Buehler (elbow) could return late in the 2023 season, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Buehler was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, though Roberts relayed some optimism that the right-hander could take the mound late in the season. If Buehler were to return, it would likely come as a reliever or in starts with a low pitch-count. While that wouldn't be enough to make him fantasy relevant in most formats, it would provide some reassurance regarding the health of his arm heading into 2024.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Placed on 60-day injured list
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Buehler (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Dodgers on Thursday.
Buehler is likely to miss the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last August. He should be 100 percent recovered come the beginning of spring training in 2024, but a more precise recovery timeline should come into focus as he goes through his rehab program.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Avoids arbitration with L.A.
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Buehler (elbow) and the Dodgers agreed on a one-year, $8.025 million contract Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Buehler and the team will avoid the arbitration headache after they were able to finalize a deal Friday. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in August and may not pitch in 2023 as a result. Prior to injuring his elbow, Buehler produced an uncharacteristic 4.02 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 58 strikeouts over 65 innings in 12 starts last season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Small step forward
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Buehler (elbow) played catch Monday.
Buehler made 20 throws during the session, his first action since sustaining a Grade 2 flexor strain in his right elbow June 10. The right-hander is still a long way from a potential return, but Monday's action is the first step toward joining the Dodgers' rotation at some point later this season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: To resume throwing
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Buehler (elbow) will play light catch Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The activity will mark Buehler's first since being placed on the injured list June 11. He remains optimistic that he'll be able to return to the Dodgers' rotation in mid-to-late September, though he isn't set for another MRI until 12 weeks post-injury -- which would be in early September. Any appearances he makes during the regular season would likely only be to build up his workload for a potential postseason run.
