Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes Provides Update on Walker Buehler
The Dodgers’ rotation is going to look leaps and bounds better than it did last year when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. But it won’t look perfect.
Walker Buehler, who’s working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery, is unlikely to be ready come Opening Day in Seoul, South Korea.
The Dodgers are taking a more cautious approach to Buehler’s recovery, as they know they need to take care of the right arm of their 29-year-old ace — one of their aces, that is.
Either way, the Dodgers don’t want to rush Buehler back, as they’re prioritizing him being healthy come October rather than having him ready in March. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes spoke to Alanna Rizzo of MLB Network and provided an update on Buehler’s recovery.
“We’ve had ongoing conversations with Walker and want to make sure that we’re going step by step and not jumping too far ahead,” Gomes said. “He’s feeling really good right now in his throwing program and we’re going to continue to progress him in a smart way. And our goal, as is Walker’s, is to have him at his best towards the end of the season and hopefully for a deep playoff run.”
Buehler likely isn’t going to be cleared to pitch during the Dodgers’ season-opening series in Seoul, South Korea. He’s unlikely to be cleared by Opening Day back in Los Angeles, too.
Whether he returns in late March, April, or even May doesn’t really matter — all that matters is he’s healthy come the end of the season.
The Dodgers saw what happened in 2023 when they didn’t have a healthy rotation come October, and they want to ensure they’re doing everything they can to prevent that from happening again. If that means delaying Buehler’s 2024 debut, so be it.
The Dodgers can still roll with a potential Opening Day rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan — at least as of now.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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We’ve seen this approach play out before for Roger Clemons and CC Sabbathia. We can win plenty of the 162 with Sheehan and Stone and Frasso. But what happens in the final 11 games is a different animal. Add a healthy Kershaw to the mix
Another thought. If you don’t sign Hader you may have to face him
Remember Buehler had become our ACE a couple years ago. He’s coming back. We will find out this season if Yama Glasnow or Buehler is truly our Ace
Hopefully all three perform but things have a way of working themselves out
If Buehler is healthy that will be some October staff! In addition we could also have a healthy and rested Kersh. Can’t wait! Still need more early season innings eaters tho.
Dodgers still need to acquire another (inning eater) starter.
I agree. Dodgers need to aquire another pitcher. Dodgers got the hitters. I truly believe a good pitching team will stop a good hitting team most of the time !
I agree. Dodgers need to aquire another pitcher. Dodgers got the hitters. I truly believe a good pitching team will stop a good hitting team most of the time !
We need a left handed pitcher
To Win it All, It Comes Down to is PITCHING 3 to 4 Aces and A Bad-Ass Closer Game Over!& Champion ship(s) Won ! ?
Two starters, by trade or free agency, or else rely upon Gavin Stone, Michael Grove, others at OKC. Yamamoto is used to pitching once per week. They should have a 6 man rotation. But they need to acquire pitchers on one-year deals because in 2025 they will add Ohtani, Gonsolin, Dustin May to the rotation and maybe Kershaw, too, but may lose Buehler. Still, potentially an 8-9 man rotation and several AAA pitchers will be ready in 2025. Trade for Burnes (one year left on his arbitration days). Cease has 2 years left on his contract, so maybe not him. And sign Sasaki whenever he becomes available.
Well, it was actually the hitters
that failed the Dodgers
during rhe Post Season tournament.
Just saying
Well, actually, it was both. Kershaw gave up 6 runs and recorded one out before being yanked. That’s a 162.0 ERA and gave the D’Backs all the confidence they needed. Followed by Roberts’ usual failed decisions to start Miller in what was now a hugely high pressure must win game 2 (instead of a less pressure game 1 and starting an injured Kershaw!), for his 16.2 ERA. Followed by leaving Lynn in for not one, not two, not three but 4 HRs in one inning in game 3. But, agree the team failed to score runs, but with those performances by the 3 starting pitchers, AZ was on cruise control and LA was deflated in the first 3 innings of each game. 2 – 8 in last 10 playoff games.
Knowing that Kershaw won’t be able to pitch until after the all-star break. The Dodgers should sign him to at lease a 2 year contract. Right now the Dodgers got an all right hand rotation. They need at lease one lefty in the rotation.