Dodgers Could Place Walker Buehler on Injured List Amid Struggles
The Los Angeles Dodgers mounted an incredible comeback on Tuesday night, fighting back from a five-run deficit in the ninth inning to win 11-9 over the Colorado Rockies.
To read more about the game and unbelievable comeback, click here.
Read more: Dodgers Mount Unbelievable Comeback to Beat Rockies in Game of the Year
The Dodgers were in that position in the first place, though, due to another rough outing from right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler.
Buehler allowed seven earned runs on seven hits with one walk, putting together his worst outing of the season and raising his ERA to 5.84. Since returning on May 6, Buehler has made eight starts, and has allowed at least three runs in six of them. He’s only had one scoreless appearance.
These struggles for Buehler come after he missed nearly two years due to a second Tommy John surgery. Buehler attempted to make a comeback last year, but the team elected to shut him down to prepare for 2024. He then missed the first month-plus of 2024 as the Dodgers wanted to make sure he was healthy come October. But he knows he needs to pitch well to even make an impact come October
After the game, Buehler alluded to the team giving him a potential “blow” to get him some rest and reset while he gets some work in against non-MLB competition.
“We’ve thought about taking a blow. Taking a month off, taking a week off,” Buehler said. “Trying to figure out how to get me reset. And maybe that’s coming, maybe not. I don’t know. We’ll see. It sucks to feel invaluable or like you’re hampering your team.”
It’s not yet 100 percent certain the Dodgers will take this approach, but it could make some sense as they try to get Buehler back to the old version of himself. Before going down with the injury, Buehler was emerging as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
A couple weeks on the injured list could get Buehler the reset he needs, while also allowing the Dodgers to replace him in the rotation. Buehler also got hit in the hip with a comebacker on Tuesday night, although he was able to stay in the game.
In Buehler’s last full season in 2021, he went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 33 starts and 207.2 innings. Buehler is set to his free agency at the end of this season.
Photo Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
