May 13, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) looks on from the dugout in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Oddsmakers expect the Dodgers to cruise to the NL West title. But even they didn’t think it’d be this easy.
Manager Dave Roberts said on Thursday that Walker Buehler (elbow) is “coming sooner than I think we anticipated.”
Buehler (elbow) last threw on Monday, pitching four simulated innings against the Angels.
“He threw four innings, right around 60 pitches. I thought he threw the ball well. I think the main thing from that is just to get him built up, to keep facing hitters. The next step for Walker will be a bullpen in two days, but I thought today was positive for Walker,” Robert told reporters.
The Dodgers one-time ace missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
However, he reportedly looked good all spring in live batting practice sessions, sitting 94-95 mph on his fastball.
The original expectation was that Buehler might not return until June, but it sounds like we could see him in May if he keeps progressing as he has.
Roberts noted that the right-hander is “close” to being sent out on a rehab assignment, though he’ll need to bounce back well from Monday’s outing and toss a side session later in the week before a decision is made on when that might be.
“He’s been through the rehab process, facing his own hitters, the simulated games quite a bit over the last year,” said Roberts. “I think he’s sort of over it.” The team should know more about the next steps for Buehler once he throws his next bullpen.
If all goes well the right-hander could return at some point in May. For now? Fingers crossed.
