The Los Angeles Dodgers took a deliberate approach with Walker Buehler as he navigated the recovery process from a second Tommy John surgery, but that has not yet paid dividends.
Buehler had an aggressive goal of returning late in the 2023 season before he and the Dodgers agreed to shift the focus to this year. The right-hander did not pitch in any Spring Training games and his 2024 debut did not come until May.
Buehler was inconsistent, if not struggled, through eight starts prior to being placed on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation. He now returns Wednesday to face the Milwaukee Brewers as the Dodgers’ rotation absorbed another injury with River Ryan needing Tommy John surgery.
Not one to make excuses for subpar performances, Buehler is well aware of his need to improve in order to help the Dodgers achieve their World Series goal, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“The standard here is different. It’s not just work through it and take your lumps,” Buehler said Tuesday. “I expect to throw the way I used to. But it’s not just me that expects that. It’s our standard of what we’re trying to accomplish here.
“You can’t pitch to a 5.00 ERA and expect to help us win a World Series.”
Buehler is 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through eight starts so far this season. His best outing came against the Cincinnati Reds on May 18, during which Buehler had seven strikeouts and allowed just three hits over six scoreless innings.
Shortly after going on the injured list, Buehler went to Cressey Sports Performance in Florida in effort to correct various issues that plagued his return. He remained in contact with Dodgers pitching coaches during that time.
Buehler then rejoined the team at Dodger Stadium for a homestand last month and threw an encouraging bullpen session.
“Walker looked really good. What stood out for me was the fastball, the life to the fastball. The delivery to most people’s eyes doesn’t look different, but I think the delivery was cleaned up,” manager Dave Roberts said at the time.
“More efficient, consistent. Command was good with the fastball. The secondary was fine. It was a good ‘pen, so we’ll kind of circle up and figure out what’s next for Walker. Today was a good day for Walker. It was an aggressive ‘pen.”
Buehler joined Triple-A Oklahoma City three days later.
Walker Buehler’s rehab assignment
Buehler threw 5.1 innings last week in the final start of his rehab assignment with the Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
He allowed just one run and one hit — a solo homer — while finishing with three walks and five strikeouts. Buehler walked the first batter of the game but proceeded to retire the next 13 in a row. The streak was snapped on the solo home run allowed with one out in the fifth inning.
Buehler threw 85 pitches (48 strikes) and reached the sixth inning for the first time during his rehab assignment.
Across three rehab starts for Oklahoma City, Buehler allowed a combined nine runs on 16 hits, and had 14 strikeouts over 12.2 innings.
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