MILWAUKEE — The Dodgers have the best record in the majors. They are targeting their 10th straight postseason appearance and a second World Series title in three years.
But they must try to make it without Walker Buehler, who will have elbow surgery at the end of the season, the Dodgers announced Monday. The operation will be performed on August 23rd by Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed in Los Angeles.
“It’s certainly a blow,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday. “We’re better with Walker on our ball racquet. But we just can’t do anything about it. I still think we have enough people to get through October to stop runs. But yeah, I mean, we wanted Walker to be there.”
Roberts and the Dodgers gave vague answers when repeatedly asked about the type of surgery Buehler will undergo next Tuesday. However, the Dodgers’ manager added that he doesn’t expect it to be Tommy John Surgery. He said he could be wrong once Dr. ElAttrache begins proceedings, but that’s good news for the Dodgers and the right-hander for now.
What may not be good news is how open this breach appears to be.
If the Dodgers had a clear diagnosis, it would be easy to set a reasonable timeline for Buehler’s return. But until now there are many questions and too few answers. Roberts said the Dodgers will have more information after he has the surgery.
“I don’t want to prejudge what it might or might not be,” Roberts said. “I think it’s fair because if we were clear about what it was before we went in, then you have a timeline. But at the moment we don’t. I think we would all like to have total clarity now.”
The only clarity the Dodgers have is that Buehler won’t be part of their postseason run. Getting the opening day starter back for the stretch run was always the goal after Buehler suffered a Grade 2 flexion strain on June 10th.
Buehler has played catch several times in the last few weeks. He’d stretched to 120 feet during his progress, but continued discomfort during the Dodgers’ last homestand forced the right-hander to shut things down. He then underwent an MRI, which made it clear his season was over.
“We took the chance to take some time off and start projection to get him back for this year,” Roberts said. “Then when he went through, we couldn’t get over the hump. We tried and now we have to go in.”
As Roberts alluded, the official loss of Buehler comes as a major blow to the Dodgers, who chose not to trade against a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Part of that thinking was that they hoped to have a pitcher like Buehler back in the fold.
Without Buehler, the Dodgers will continue to ask Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin to lead the rotation. Tyler Anderson was also a solid option, making his first All-Star team. Dustin May, who will make his first Tommy John Surgery start on August 20 against the Marlins, could have a bigger role later.
Then there’s Clayton Kershaw, who is currently on the injured list with a lower back injury. Kershaw is expected to recover at some point over the next few weeks, which should give him time to improve ahead of the post-season run.
“I spoke to Dustin today and he’s no savior. I just want him to come out and do well,” Roberts said. “And when Clayton comes back, he’ll have to do his job. I don’t see it as pressure. It’s just more of, we don’t have a guy that we were hoping to be with.
Buehler has struggled when he’s healthy this season, posting a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts. But few pitchers in the majors have had the success Buehler had when the lights came on in October.
Last October, Buehler was their workhorse, taking short breaks twice, once in the NL Division Series against the Giants and again in the NLCS against the Braves.