Dodgers News: Walker Buehler Will Only Return in a Non-Limited Starting Role
The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff has been steadily improving of late.
Clayton Kershaw made his return and shut down the Colorado Rockies last week, Julio Urias is finding his usual form of late, and Lance Lynn has been a standout for LA since being acquired in late July.
And in case you hadn’t heard already, the Dodgers could be getting yet another standout back in the rotation soon.
Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler has been out this season while he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. So far, that process has gone as well as one can hope, and the right-hander has expressed a desire to return in September — just in time for the stretch run of the season.
And now importantly, Buehler’s goal of a September season debut has gotten the blessing of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, as the longtime skipper said that was a possibility during an appearance on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio.
“I think it is. And you know, I think that in talking to me, I try to keep things more close to the vest to protect the player and downside, but, Walker’s his own advocate. So, after seeing with my own eyes, I will say that September is a viable option. I think it just kind of depends on once he gets out on rehab and builds up then it’s kind of where we see him slotting back him back in.”
Dave Roberts on if a September return is a possibility via MLB Network Radio
And, importantly for the Dodgers, if Buehler is able to work his way back next month, he’ll head back on the mound as a full-fledged starter and increase his workload from there.
“No, it’s going to be a starter. I think it’s one of those things where if you look at it kind of as a progression, it’s when we decide to pull that lever as far as activation. It’s not going to be two innings as an opener, it’s not going to be three innings as a short-term starter. So I think that where if we can get Walker to 4 (innings) and 60 (pitches) and recover and feel good through his rehab, then it’s a conversation.”
via MLB Network Radio
LA no longer needs the 29-year-old in order to grab hold of the NL West — the team leads the division by a healthy margin — but potentially getting him back before the playoffs will be a significant boost for a team that has had their struggles on the pitching side this season.
Yes, Kershaw is back, Urias has improved over his last few outings, and Lynn has seemingly rediscovered his All-Star form since arriving in Los Angeles, but their inconsistency on the mound was a big reason why the team struggled before the All-Star break — when they sat as far as five games back and in third in the NL West.
If Buehler can come back and add to the recent stability the team is enjoying, that will only help them come October.
And one thing is for sure. Buehler would be a pretty incredible late-season reinforcement.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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No good reason not to have him pitch a limited number of innings, even in short relief, in the second half of September. He can return to being a starter next year. If he would be one of the 14 best pitchers on the staff in the second half of September [call-ups raise the number of pitchers allowed] and he would not be risking injury, why not? Then, see if he would be one of the 13 best in the playoffs, even as a short reliever. Who is he going to replace as a starter in September? Kershaw, Urias, Bobby Miller, Lance Lynn, Pepiot? Only if one of them goes down. He won’t be ready to pitch 75 pitches anyway in September, probably no more than 45-50 maximum.