Player Outlook
Walker Buehler threw as many pitches as you did in 2023, so you have that going for you, which is nice. What fantasy managers hoped would be a cinderella story out of nowhere with Buehler coming back late in 2023 to help in the stretch run never materialized as we were all yet again reminded Tommy John surgery recoveries are not the same and are not guaranteed. We know how talented Buehler was before his surgery, but 2024 is an all too familiar story of risk versus reward. It is extremely unlikely Buehler is going to work over 160 innings in 2024, and we do not know how much rust he has to shake off. Buehler also isn't expected to be available at the start of the season, though he isn't expected to miss too much time. His first pitch in a regular season game will come nearly 20 months from his last pitch of 2022. Your ability to roster him depends on your roster construction as well as your appetite for extreme risk.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2023 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2022 14512.1 65.0 6 3 — 58 17 4.02 1.29
3y Avg. 26017.3 91.0 7 2 — 90 23 2.87 1.04

Fantasy News

  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: May appear in spring games

    Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Buehler (elbow) won't begin the regular season with the Dodgers, but the team hopes for Buehler to start a Cactus League game, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. Buehler will miss the first few weeks of the season as he continues to work his way back from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. Heading into camp, Buehler hadn't been expected to appear in any spring training games, but the Dodgers' optimism toward getting him in a Cactus League contest may be a sign that the 29-year-old righty is ahead of schedule in his rehab process. Once Buehler is able to return to Los Angeles' rotation, he will undoubtedly be operating under an innings restriction.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Sitting 94-to-95 mph in live BP

    Buehler (elbow) said he was sitting in the 94-to-95 mph range during live batting practice Tuesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. Buehler felt good in the session in what was his first time facing hitters this spring. He expects to require another 3-to-4 live BP sessions before progressing to games. Buehler is not expected to appear in any Cactus League contests and will stay back at extended spring training at the start of the season.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Facing hitters Tuesday

    Buehler (elbow) will face hitters Tuesday for the first time this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. The Dodgers are bringing Buehler along carefully this spring after he missed virtually the entire 2023 season following Tommy John surgery. He is not expected to make any Cactus League appearances and instead will stay behind at extended spring training for the start of the regular season. The Dodgers have been vague about a timetable for Buehler's season debut, but it doesn't seem likely to happen before the end of April.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Unlikely to pitch in Cactus games

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that it's unlikely Buehler (elbow) will make any Cactus League appearances this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Roberts declined to offer a timetable for when Buehler will join the Dodgers' rotation, but the fact that the right-hander won't make any spring training appearances indicates that it won't be early on in the season. Buehler made just one rehab appearance last year while working his way back from his second Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old figures to stay behind in extended spring training for a while before eventually starting a rehab assignment.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Season debut undetermined

    Dodgers manager Dave Robert said Sunday that there's "no hard start date" for Buehler's (elbow) season debut, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. The Dodgers are slow-playing Buehler's throwing progression this spring after he made just one rehab appearance last year following Tommy John surgery. In addition to an undetermined date for his season debut, Buehler will also no doubt be facing workload restrictions during the 2024 campaign. It's a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Won't be in Opening Day rotation

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Saturday that Buehler (elbow) will not be on the Opening Day roster, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports. The Dodgers are trying to figure out the best way to manage Buehler's workload as he comes back from Tommy John surgery and will have him on a "slow program," per Roberts. Whether that means the right-hander will begin the year in extended spring training, on a rehab assignment or something else has not been revealed by the club yet. It's also unclear at this juncture when Buehler might join the Dodgers' rotation, but fantasy managers probably should count on him being unavailable at least for the first month or so. Buehler also figures to have a truncated workload when he does make it back. It's a tricky situation in fantasy, but there's not at least a bit more clarity ahead of spring training.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Start of season could be delayed

    The Dodgers are considering delaying Buehler's (elbow) season debut in 2024 as they look to manage his workload coming off Tommy John surgery, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports. Buehler wasn't far off from a return late last season, as he made one rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was having some trouble rebounding from throwing sessions, though, and the Dodgers made the decision to shut him down. Because he threw only 65 innings in 2022 and just two in 2023, Buehler was never going to come close to a full workload in 2024. The Dodgers have not yet made a decision on how exactly his workload will be limited, but delaying his season debut might be the most likely option as the team tries to have him ready for October. "He'll be ready to go in spring training, but when we decide to make his debut in 2024 is going to be determined," manager Dave Roberts said in December. "Whether it's the first week or a month later, we're going to kind of wait and see how spring goes."
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Reaches $8.025 million deal

    The Dodgers and Buehler avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.025 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. It's the same salary Buehler received in 2023 when he missed the entire season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old was eligible for arbitration for the final time, as he's currently slated to hit free agency next winter. Buehler did begin a rehab assignment in September and is slated to be ready to roll for Opening Day, although workload restrictions are likely.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Won't return in 2023

    Buehler (elbow) will not pitch for the Dodgers in 2023. Buehler has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He threw two scoreless innings during his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. However, with the Dodgers shifting their focus to getting Buehler ready for the start of 2024, it's unclear whether the 29-year-old righty will continue making rehab appearances in the minors.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Next rehab start Friday

    Buehler (elbow) will make his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. Buehler looked sharp in his rehab debut Sunday with OKC, tallying two strikeouts over two perfect innings in what was a 24-pitch outing against the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers. He's expected to make at least two more starts on the farm -- including Friday -- before possibly stepping in as a rotation replacement for Julio Urias following his weekend arrest on a felony domestic violence charge. Buehler is a little over 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Excels in first rehab start

    Buehler (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Buehler tossed 24 pitches (15 strikes) en route to retiring the side in the first and second innings. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News, Buehler's fastball sat between 93 and 96 miles per hour in the first inning, and he was able to mix in a cutter, slider, sinker and curveball to complement the heater. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Buehler will likely need at least two more rehab starts prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, making mid-to-late September the target for his 2023 debut with the Dodgers.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Rehab assignment set

    Buehler (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports. Buehler has been throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex since early August, though he'll make a long-awaited step forward to rehab games. He's expected to throw one or two innings in his first appearance and will need to make at least three starts before being activated. That could line Buehler up for a return in mid-to-late September, barring setbacks.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Still throwing in Arizona

    Buehler (elbow) will continue throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex in Arizona, as he has yet to toss more than one inning, per MLB.com. Buehler began throwing to live hitters Aug. 9 and has continued to take part in one-inning simulated games. He appears to have avoided any setbacks, but the fact that he hasn't yet gone more than one frame suggests that he's still several weeks away from a return. Buehler will eventually need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's cleared to make his 2023 debut with the big-league club.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Will return as starter

    Buehler (elbow) will return as a traditional starting pitcher if he is able to make it back this season, manager Dave Roberts said Friday on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. The right-hander would be able to rejoin the Dodgers' staff more quickly if the goal was to use him initially in shorter stints, either as an opener or reliever, but Roberts said in this interview that the plan will be to build him up to four innings and/or 60 pitches. In his first time facing live hitters Wednesday since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler touched 93 mph with his fastball during a one-inning sim game. He won't be ready at the beginning of September, but Roberts said a return sometime that month is still a viable option.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Will face hitters this week

    Buehler (elbow) "will take the next step in his recovery by facing hitters in Arizona this week," Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. It was reported last week that Buehler was close to beginning a rehab assignment, and while it's unclear if he will officially start one in the coming days, he appears ready to take another step in his recovery. Expect the Dodgers to release another update on his status following his upcoming session.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Nearing rehab assignment

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Buehler (elbow) is "on the verge" of beginning a rehab assignment, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. Buehler is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday in San Diego and could then head out next week to one of the Dodgers' minor-league affiliates as he prepares to return to live games. Roberts told reporters that they are expecting the 29-year-old back -- as a starting pitcher -- in the early part of September. He is closing in on the 12-month mark from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Making progress toward return

    Buehler (elbow) shared a video of himself throwing a bullpen session on his personal Instagram account last week. Buehler has previously stated that he is aiming to be ready to join the Dodgers by Sept. 1, and his ability to throw bullpens is a promising indication that such a timeline may be feasible. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last August, so Los Angeles won't push him to move through the rehab process any faster than necessary. If Buehler does make it back to the big-league club in early September, his addition to the pitching staff could be a big boost to the team, though it's possible he could be used out of the bullpen given the length of his absence.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Aiming for early September return

    Buehler (elbow) said Tuesday that he's aiming for a Sept. 1 return from the 60-day injured list, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. As DiGiovanna notes, a return in September would mark a much shorter recovery than usual from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery, which Buehler underwent last August. The right-hander has already thrown a few bullpen sessions and could advance to facing hitters within the next month. Los Angeles will take all the necessary precautions with Buehler and there's no guarantee he pitches in a meaningful role if he does return in September. Nonetheless, his previous success makes him a name fantasy managers should keep a close eye on.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Throwing bullpen Monday

    Buehler (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions at the Dodgers' spring training facility in Arizona and will throw another Monday at Dodger Stadium, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. Buehler continues to make strong progress while recovering from the Tommy John reconstructive surgery the right-hander underwent last summer. The 28-year-old has a chance to return to the Los Angeles staff in 2023, but it isn't likely to occur until the final few months of the season.
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  • Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Begins throwing program

    Buehler (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports. Buehler made just a handful of flat-ground tosses from a distance of 60 feet, but it's a significant step forward nonetheless in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old right-hander had the procedure last August and obviously has many more months of rehab work ahead. If he does pitch for the Dodgers in 2023, it will probably only be a handful of innings in September/October.
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