Zachary Engberg
2 min read • June 12, 2022
Posted in
The Dodgers placed slender ace Walker Buehler on the 15-day IL on Saturday after an MRI revealed a flexor strain in his right forearm.
Buehler left Friday’s start in the fourth inning with right elbow discomfort that lingered from early in the third, saying he felt something “grabbing” in the surgically-repaired elbow. Roberts said on Saturday that Buehler will be shut down for six-to-eight weeks as they attempt to repair the damage without surgery.
While it's a sigh of relief that the injury is muscular and doesn't appear to involve ligament damage, Buehler will still miss approximately three months as he recovers and ramps up once again.
The all-in Dodgers are reportedly already looking at upgrading their pitching staff, according to Bob Nightengale.
Buehler will likely be transferred to the 60-day IL but the Docs believe he will return as a healthy contributor for the team's playoff push.
The 27-year-old appeared to feel the “zing” after a curveball to Mike Yastrzemski with one out in the third. He made a lap around the mound and visibly grimaced after the pitch continued to move restlessly and communicate with the bullpen throughout the inning.
Roberts said that they knew about his injury after the third inning and decided to put him back out for the fourth inning, but pulled him because the pain didn’t subside.
He has dealt with off-and-on pain in his elbow since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015 but has never spent time on the IL because of it.
There was some confusion among the ProBaseballDocs on the exact nature of the injury.
Dave Roberts initially described the injury as a ligament strain, according to Los Angeles Times' Jack Harris, which is an incorrect descriptor.
Sprains and strains are each partial tears, but a strain refers to the tearing of a muscle or tendon, such as the flexor. Ligaments, however, suffer sprains, and are more difficult to rehab because they are structural in nature and depend on stability to function correctly.
The Dodgers quickly clarified that Buehler suffered a flexor strain, potentially in an effort to maintain power in trade discussion, according to the Docs.
If other teams know or believe that Los Angeles will be without their blue-chipper for the entire season, they can further gouge the team because they would be more desperate.
We have recently seen big-name pitchers out for long periods of time while healing elbow issues that didn’t involve ligament damage.
Jacob deGrom hasn’t pitched since July 7, 2021 because of elbow inflammation reportedly unrelated to his UCL. His elbow injury eventually caused a shoulder stress reaction that continues to hold out the multi-time CY Young winner.
After a breakout 2021 season and a fantastic start 2022, Buehler has struggled over the last six starts, posting a 6.67 ERA and 1.601 WHIP while never once going over six IP.
Buehler denies his elbow causing his poor play, but that is not out of the realm of possibility.
Written by Zachary Engberg
