fbpx

Dodgers Injury Update: Walker Buehler Continuing Rehab Assignment

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers escaped an injury scare with Walker Buehler and he’s scheduled to continue with a rehab assignment next week.

Buehler started for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night but threw just 27 pitches over two innings. He was forced to an early exit due to being hit in the right hand by a line-drive comebacker.

Buehler initially remained in the game to finish the second inning but was seen leaving LoanMart Field with his finger wrapped.

“It was his middle finger, or knuckle kind of,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday. “Came out of it fine. The plan is for him to pitch next Thursday. Don’t know where yet, but I think it’s with the OKC team.

“And we’ll go from there.”

Had Buehler not been removed early from his third rehab start, the plan was to have him stretch out to upwards of 90 pitches. That was going to then give way to another outing for either the Quakes or Oklahoma City, followed by likely getting activated to join the Dodgers.

But that progression and schedule now has been delayed.

“Looking at [Friday], the goal was to continue building that foundation of pitch count and get him up near 90 pitches. We didn’t come close to that, so it’s sort of a repeat again,” Roberts said.

When previously discussing Buehler’s performance in the rehab starts, Roberts was encouraged by the progress being made.

“I thought his last one was good,” he said. “I thought his last one was good. And so he’s trending in the right way. His recovery is good. He’s strong, ball’s coming out well.”

In three starts thus far, Buehler has thrown 10 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) while striking out eight and walking three.

When will Walker Buehler return?

Given that Buehler is likely to make at least two more rehab starts, that rules him out from joining the Dodgers rotation until some time in early May.

Buehler last pitched for the Dodgers on June 10, 2022, when he was removed from a start against the San Francisco Giants due to right elbow discomfort that ultimately led to a right flexor tendon repair and second career Tommy John surgery.

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com