Dave Roberts Reveals Walker Buehler’s Next Rehab Start

Walker Buehler needs one more rehab start before joining the big league club, which could make him the team leader with five starts in Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Manager Dave Roberts said Buehler will start for OKC again on Tuesday for his sixth rehab start, and fifth with OKC. The Baseball Club currently has no starter with more than four starts.

“We just feel if he can get one more with that OKC team, the following week he’ll be ready to pitch for us,” Roberts said. “Just a consensus that once he gets with us we want to be able to let him run when he gets here.

“I think the one more start for them, once we get him I think he’ll be ready to go and can be used as a regular major-league starter. The fastball’s playing. The command was better, the secondary pitches better. I think we’re in a really good spot with Walker.”

Through five rehab starts, including one Single-A start, Buehler has an earned run average of 4.95 with 19 hits and nine walks in 16.2 innings. The Dodgers are extending his rehab assignment because he hasn’t been able to work deep into games. He has pitched into a fifth inning twice, facing one batter in the fifth inning of his most recent outing.

Buehler supports Roberts’ decision to keep with Oklahoma City for at least one more start.

“Actually, I think initially, with Walker, we were thinking he’d be back with us in the middle of May,” Roberts said. “So I would argue that we’re a little bit ahead of schedule – if it holds.

“I think he’s probably over it,” Roberts said. “But I think he understands our thought because Walker is part of the conversation too.”

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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