The Los Angeles Dodgers‘faint hope of having Walker Buehler in their post-season rotation ended on Monday, when it was announced that their key pitcher would require elbow surgery at the end of the season. The Dodgers were vague in their description of Buehler’s injury because the initial MRI did not provide enough clarity, a source with knowledge of the situation said. The Dodgers won’t learn the specifics until Dr. Neal ElAttrache conducts the procedure on August 23.
What they do know, however, is that they won’t have their most talented pitcher while chasing the World Series title.
The Dodgers boast the highest win rates and lowest ERAs in the majors despite navigating a range of injuries for their staff, with 11 pitchers currently on their injured list. But Dustin May is expected to return from Tommy John surgery on Saturday, and the team hopes that Clayton Kershaw, who has been off since early August with lower back discomfort, can still return in time to prepare. for the knockout round. The first-round goodbye, given to the two best performing teams in each tournament in a new format, is sure to help his career.
Buehler, 28, underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after the Dodgers knocked him out of Vanderbilt with a 24th overall pick in 2015. From 2018 to 2021, he established himself as one of the wings. The dominant hand in the sport, hitting 39-13 with a 2.82 ERA and 620 strikes in 564 regular innings while also appearing in some of the Dodgers’ biggest post-season games.
But Buehler got off to a relatively slow start in 2022, allowing for eight runs in six thirds in his first two outings in June and having to miss out due to muscle strain, at which point he was also cut. right bone. elbow. Over time, Buehler should recover within 10 to 12 weeks, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Milwaukee on Monday that Buehler had developed unusual aches and pains while playing catch. ball, causing an MRI scan to result in him having to close for good.
The Dodgers will start in October when Buehler is gone, Kershaw not long after a back injury, May in the early stages of his return from major surgery on his elbow and Tony Gonsolin surpassing his previous career in the high innings. Julio Urias and Tyler Andersonrevealed later in his first season in LA, will probably be heavily relied upon.
