Walker Buehler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that if right-hander Walker Buehler's (elbow) minor-league rehab start goes well on Thursday night and he gets to 80 to 90 pitches, he will be a strong candidate to return to the starting rotation next week. Buehler is getting very close to making his 2024 debut after missing all of the 2023 campaign due to Tommy John surgery that he underwent in August of 2022. It would be unfair to expect the 29-year-old to immediately return to his pre-surgery levels, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be rostered in all fantasy formats. Before having elbow surgery, Buehler was a fantasy ace when he was on. Pick him up off your league's waiver wire immediately if he's somehow available.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow, hand) is set to make his next rehab start on Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Buehler is fine and will pitch his next rehab start on Thursday. The 29-year-old was removed from Friday's rehab start after taking a comeback to his right hand. Buehler will do a tune-up start on Thursday and could rejoin the Dodgers the following week. LA's rotation is banged up with Bobby Miller (shoulder), Emmett Sheehan (forearm), Clayton Kershaw (shoulder), and Dustin May (elbow) all on the injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Buehler in all leagues, as he is expected to return from the injured list soon.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler's (elbow) third minor-league rehab start on Friday was cut short after he was struck in the right hand by a comebacker. Buehler threw only two innings before departing, but it sounds like his exit was a precautionary measure. This could have been Buehler's last rehab start on his way back from Tommy John surgery, but the Dodgers may now want him to get one final tune-up appearance before rejoining the rotation following such a long layoff. The 29-year-old All-Star right-hander should still be able to return by late April and obviously needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues at this point. Who comes out of LA's rotation upon Buehler's comeback remains a question mark, but Ryan Yarbrough's 3.29 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through four starts may give him the upper hand over Gavin Stone's 9.00 ERA and 2.13 WHIP over his two appearances.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (elbow) allowed two hits across 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday. He struck out six batters without issuing a walk and touched 95.3 MPH on his fastball. The 29-year-old's first rehab outing wasn't the prettiest, but this was a far more impressive showing. The current plan is for Buehler to make a couple more rehab starts before joining the Dodgers staff in late April. There's no guarantee that Buehler recaptures his former SP1 status, but he should definitely be stashed in all fantasy formats.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler's (elbow) next minor-league rehab start will be on Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City again. It will be Buehler's second rehab start after he gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out two in 3 1/3 innings (54 pitches) in his first rehab start with OKC on Easter Sunday. The 29-year-old's first rehab start wasn't very pretty, but all that matters is that he didn't have a setback with his surgically repaired right elbow that kept him from pitching all of last year. If everything goes smoothly during his rehab assignment, Buehler is expected to make four rehab starts and then make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers later this month. Things may be bumpy early on, but Buehler deserves to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues.