Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Aiming for early September return
Rotowire
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
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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: Continues to make progress
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters prior to Friday's game against the Padres that Buehler (elbow) has thrown off a mound and he's continuing to make progress, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Buehler is working his way back from Tommy John surgery he underwent back in August. The right-hander has a chance to return late in 2023 in a best-case scenario, but it's more likely he won't be back in the Dodgers rotation until 2024.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Throws from 150 feet away
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Buehler (elbow) was seen throwing at Dodgers Stadium on Saturday and throwing from 150 feet away, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Buehler began his throwing program back in March, and he's now able to complete long toss as he works his way back from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery that he underwent in August. There is a chance for Buehler to help the Dodgers at the end of the 2023 season as a multi-inning reliever or possibly a starter if everything goes right, but any appearances that happen before September at this point are bonuses.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Begins throwing program
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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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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Nearly ready to throw
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) will begin a throwing program within the next two weeks, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery in August, but he's yet to be officially ruled out for the upcoming season. He'd have to be on the faster end of the typical timeline to do so, and he's unlikely to throw more than a handful of innings, but it will give him something to work toward throughout the year as he continues his recovery.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Not ruled out for 2023
Rotowire
Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Buehler (elbow) could return late in the 2023 season, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Buehler was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, though Roberts relayed some optimism that the right-hander could take the mound late in the season. If Buehler were to return, it would likely come as a reliever or in starts with a low pitch-count. While that wouldn't be enough to make him fantasy relevant in most formats, it would provide some reassurance regarding the health of his arm heading into 2024.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Placed on 60-day injured list
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Dodgers on Thursday.
Buehler is likely to miss the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last August. He should be 100 percent recovered come the beginning of spring training in 2024, but a more precise recovery timeline should come into focus as he goes through his rehab program.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Avoids arbitration with L.A.
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) and the Dodgers agreed on a one-year, $8.025 million contract Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Buehler and the team will avoid the arbitration headache after they were able to finalize a deal Friday. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in August and may not pitch in 2023 as a result. Prior to injuring his elbow, Buehler produced an uncharacteristic 4.02 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 58 strikeouts over 65 innings in 12 starts last season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Needs second Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair surgery Tuesday.
Buehler had Tommy John surgery the year he was drafted (2015), so this is his second go-round with the procedure. Given the timing of the surgery and the fact that he has a lot riding on his recovery going smoothly, it's possible he won't pitch in games until the 2024 season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Requires season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Buehler will undergo season-ending elbow surgery Aug. 23.
Buehler sustained a Grade 2 flexor strain in his right elbow June 10 and spent the last two months recovering. Although the Dodgers hoped that the right-hander would be able to return sometime in September, he'll ultimately be forced to miss the remainder of the season. The exact nature of the procedure, which will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, isn't yet known, so it's unclear whether Buehler will be ready to pitch in time for spring training in 2023.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Small step forward
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) played catch Monday.
Buehler made 20 throws during the session, his first action since sustaining a Grade 2 flexor strain in his right elbow June 10. The right-hander is still a long way from a potential return, but Monday's action is the first step toward joining the Dodgers' rotation at some point later this season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: To resume throwing
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Buehler (elbow) will play light catch Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The activity will mark Buehler's first since being placed on the injured list June 11. He remains optimistic that he'll be able to return to the Dodgers' rotation in mid-to-late September, though he isn't set for another MRI until 12 weeks post-injury -- which would be in early September. Any appearances he makes during the regular season would likely only be to build up his workload for a potential postseason run.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Optimism for September return
Rotowire
The Dodgers remain optimistic that Buehler (elbow) will return as a starter in September, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Manager Dave Roberts noted that Buehler has made progress and is "cautiously optimistic" the right-hander can return as a starter this season. There is no more specific timetable available, and Buehler has yet to undergo any follow-up imaging on his elbow since being diagnosed with the flexor strain in mid-June.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Transferred to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) was moved to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The move comes as no surprise, as Buehler seems to be tracking toward a return in September at best as he works his way back from both a flexor strain and surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. He isn't expected to pick up a baseball for at least another month. His spot on the 40-man roster will be filled by Trayce Thompson, whose contract was selected Tuesday.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Bone spur removed, timeline unchanged
Rotowire
Buehler (elbow) had a bone spur removed from his right elbow Monday, which won't affect his recovery timeline from the flexor strain, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old was already shut down from throwing for 6-to-8 weeks after being diagnosed with the flexor strain over the weekend, so it was an opportune time to remove the bone spur he's been dealing with across the past couple years. Buehler is still hoping to pitch again this season, but it's not guaranteed given that he won't begin even playing catch until at least late July.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Won't throw for at least six weeks
Rotowire
Buehler's MRI revealed a flexor strain in his right elbow Saturday, which will prevent him from throwing for 6-to-8 weeks, but the Dodgers aren't calling him done for the season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The positive spin on Buehler's injury is that it's believed to be manageable via rest and rehab rather than surgery, but that's where the optimism ends. The given timeline means he won't even pick up a baseball until sometime in late July or early August, and the length of his absence means he'll have to fully build back up at that point. That puts his likely return sometime in September and means that even a minor setback could end his regular season.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Diagnosed with forearm strain
Rotowire
Buehler was diagnosed with a right forearm strain Saturday and placed on the 15-day injured list.
Buehler was pulled from his start Friday against the Giants with what was originally called elbow discomfort, but the diagnosis has been updated to a forearm strain following an MRI. A forearm strain is sometimes the first sign of an issue which winds up requiring Tommy John surgery, a procedure which Buehler underwent back in 2015. While there's been no indication so far that this specific injury will require such a surgery, manager Dave Roberts did say that the righty will miss "a good bit of time," so don't expect him back on the mound any time soon. Michael Grove was recalled to take his place on the roster.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Bound for injured list
Rotowire
Buehler's elbow MRI results are not yet known, but he'll be placed on the injured list shortly and will miss "a good bit of time" per manager Dave Roberts, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Buehler struggled to an 8.76 ERA over his last three starts and exited with elbow discomfort after just four innings Friday against the Giants. While neither a specific diagnosis nor an exact timeline for his return have been revealed at this point, the fact that the Dodgers are already expecting an extended absence even before his MRI has been completed doesn't look like a good sign. Andrew Heaney (shoulder) could return next weekend, though he's hardly a like-for-like replacement for a pitcher of Buehler's caliber.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Slated for MRI
Rotowire
Buehler will receive an MRI on his right elbow Saturday morning, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Buehler was pulled from Friday's contest against the Giants after four innings, and it was later disclosed that he is dealing with right elbow discomfort. Ardaya reports that the right-hander has dealt with discomfort in the elbow for years, and Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times explains that Buehler attempted to keep pitching when something "grabbed" in the elbow Friday only to discover that the issue didn't go away. The Dodgers -- and fantasy managers who roster Buehler -- will be holding their collective breaths while waiting to see what Saturday's MRI reveals.
