Walker Buehler's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow), who is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, won't be in the Opening Day starting rotation. However, manager Dave Roberts said that the hope is to give him one Cactus League start later this month before the regular season kicks off. The 29-year-old Buehler had Tommy John surgery back in August of 2022, but he won't open the 2024 season on time and could miss the first month of the season so that the Dodgers don't have to shut him down late in the season while being on an innings limit. His long layoff will certainly curb his fantasy upside this year, but if he can regain his pre-injury form, Buehler should serve as a very useful fantasy arm with the best lineup in baseball backing him.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) said he felt good during his first live batting practice session of camp on Tuesday and that his fastball was sitting at 94-95 mph. Buehler said he will probably need another three to four live batting practice sessions before being ready for game action, but he sounded encouraged by his progress of late. The 29-year-old didn't pitch in the big leagues at all in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2022, and the Dodgers are slow-playing him at spring training. There's no timetable for when he'll make his 2024 season debut, and fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Dodgers keep him out for the entire first month in order to help them manage his innings. Buehler is a risk coming off a lost season in 2023, but his track record before his elbow injury was solid enough to take a chance on him in all fantasy leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) is scheduled to face hitters for the first time this spring on Tuesday. Buehler didn't pitch for the Dodgers at all in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2022. As a result, the team is slow-playing him in camp this year, and he's not going to be ready to pitch to begin the season. The Dodgers aren't exactly putting a specific timeline on when he might make his 2024 debut, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he's held out for the entire first month of play. It's unclear what to expect from the 29-year-old once he does return to the Dodgers' starting rotation this year, but Buehler has proven to be a fantasy ace before having elbow surgery, making him worth the risk as a back-end rotation option in all mixed leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn't have a firm timeline for when right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) will return to a major-league mound after his delayed start on the injured list this year, but it's "unlikely" that he'll pitch in any Cactus League games in spring training. The 29-year-old will open the 2024 regular season on the injured list and could miss as much as the entire first month while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers prefer to hold Buehler back at the beginning of the season, rather than at the end. He was only able to make one rehab outing in 2023 and will not be rushed back onto a mound this spring. Buehler showed ace-like potential before his injury, but fantasy managers are going to want to temper expectations for him this year while on an innings limit.

There is currently no timeline for Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) to make his 2024 season debut. "There's still no hard start date. There's a progression that needs to be in place and is in place. Once he passes all those markers he'll be ready to go. I just don't know when that's going to be," manager Dave Roberts said. Coming off Tommy John surgery after missing all of 2023, Buehler isn't going to be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign and could end up missing the entire first month of the season so that LA doesn't have to limit his innings down the stretch. The 29-year-old showed before his injury that he has the potential to be a fantasy ace, but managers may want to temper their expectations for Buehler in 2024.