Walker Buehler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler (hip) will face hitters in Kentucky in the next few days and then will return to Los Angeles to work with the team's coaching staff. Buehler had been working out at a private facility in Florida after landing on the 15-day injured list due to right-hip inflammation. The 29-year-old returned in 2024 after having Tommy John surgery and didn't get the results he was hoping for, leading the Dodgers to put him on the shelf on June 19. Although the Dodgers haven't released any kind of timetable for Buehler to return to the big-league starting rotation, it appears he's getting closer as he tweaks his mechanics. Fantasy managers should keep Buehler stashed in all formats in hopes that he can find his pre-injury form when he returns in the second half. The former first-rounder was one of the most dominant pitchers in the big leagues before his elbow injury.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (hip) remains at Cressey Sports Performance in Florida and is throwing bullpens and working on his mechanics. "I can say there's progress," Dave Roberts said on Wednesday. "But I really can't even speak intelligently what that progress is. I really can't." Buehler made his return from Tommy John surgery in 2024, but the results weren't pretty, as the 29-year-old went 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA (6.06 FIP) and 1.51 WHIP with 31 K's and 10 walks in 37 innings in his eight starts. LA placed him on the 15-day injured list on June 19 with right-hip inflammation as a way for him to take a step back and work on his mechanics. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to return to his pre-injury dominance, and there's currently no timetable for his return to the Dodgers' starting rotation in the second half of the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler's hip no longer appears to be bothering him, but there's no clear plan for his return from the 15-day injured list. Manager Dave Roberts said Buehler is throwing and has been working "offsite," both in Arizona and at a private facility in Florida, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. "He's doing a little bit of everything," Roberts said. Buehler returned from a second Tommy John procedure on his right elbow and had an up-and-down eight starts with the Blue before being put on the injured list with a hip injury. He posted a 5.84 ERA in his eight starts, and there are real questions about how effective his fastball will be moving forward after going under the knife again. Buehler probably won't be an option to return to LA's rotation until the second half of the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said ahead of Friday's series opener against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Angels that the club is still deciding what starting pitcher Walker Buehler's (hip) process on the injured list is going to look like. Roberts mentioned that the extra weight and strength Buehler put on this offseason might be impacting his mechanics. Buehler took a comebacker during Tuesday's start at Coors Field against the division-rival Colorado Rockies, and the Dodgers decided they had seen enough after the hurler gave up a season-worst seven runs by sending him to the IL with right hip inflammation on Wednesday. Buehler owns a rough 5.84 ERA (6.04 FIP), 1.51 WHIP, and 31:10 K:BB over eight starts (37 innings), and he may end up spending a considerable amount of time back in the minors on assignment to sharpen up his mechanics. There's a chance we won't see him again until after July's All-Star break.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler was knocked around against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, taking the loss in a 4-0 defeat. Buehler pitched just 3 IP and allowed three runs. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out two. The 29-year-old was making his second start on the season after coming back from Tommy John surgery, and although it wasn't a disastrous outing, it certainly wasn't encouraging either. His limited pitch count and overall rustiness are to be expected, but fantasy managers were likely looking for a step in the right direction from his last outing, and that didn't happen on either front. It might be a while before we see the Walker Buehler that competed for a Cy Young, if we even see him at all this year.