The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Walker Buehler from the 15-day injured list on May 6 with the hope he could help fill out the middle or back-end of their rotation.
Coming off of a second Tommy John surgery that had him on the IL for parts of three seasons, there was an expectation Buehler would have to reinvent himself on the mound to find success at the Major League level once again.
The early returns were a mixed bag. It mostly showed that Buehler had not yet found his new identity on the mound and needed more time to work through things. He’s made eight starts so far in 2024, pitching to a 5.84 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and .301 batting average against with 10 home runs allowed in 37 innings.
Buehler was put back on the 15-day IL on June 19, this time with right hip inflammation. But it mostly served as a way for the Dodgers to let the right-hander work on his mechanics without taking up a spot on the 26-man roster.
As Buehler’s stint on the injured list nears its first month, he is away from the team while working through some struggles, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Right-hander Walker Buehler is trying to correct his own issues by working out at Cressey Sports Performance in Florida. According to Roberts, Buehler has been communicating with the Dodgers’ pitching coaches and is throwing bullpen sessions there.
While players don’t usually train and practice away from the club’s coaches during the season, the Dodgers have backed up Buehler’s decision:
The idea of working at a facility outside the Dodgers’ organization was Buehler’s “and we’re supporting it,” Roberts said.
There is still no timetable for when Buehler will be ready to return to a Major League mound.
Adding in Bobby Miller’s recent demotion and Tyler Glasnow’s injury, the Dodgers’ internal options to put together a complete rotation are dwindling. Pitchers they do have will be returning from significant injury, which comes with a certain level of uncertainty in and of itself.
This increases the need for the Dodgers to address the position in someway via the trade market before the upcoming trade deadline.
Dodgers trade deadline target
Garrett Crochet is one name that is expected to be dealt at this year’s deadline, and the Dodgers have consistently been linked to him even before their need for starting pitching worsened.
However, the price for the young left-hander is expected to be very steep. In the event the Dodgers are unable to swing a deal for him, they would need to pivot to another option like Crochet’s teammate Erick Fedde or a rental like Jack Flaherty.
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