The Dodgers cleared the way for Walker Buehler to return to their starting rotation next week by sending right-hander Landon Knack back to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Knack was 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts after right-hander Bobby Miller also went on the injured list.
Buehler made his final rehab start for OKC on Tuesday, completing five innings for the first time in his six starts, and will start Monday for the Dodgers against the Miami Marlins.
“We’re excited about that. Everything checked out,” Roberts said, calling Buehler’s final rehab start “his best one.”
Buehler has not pitched in a major-league game since June 2022 and underwent both a second Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair that summer. But the Dodgers are optimistic the Buehler who returns to their rotation will still be the aggressive, power-pitching version who once led their rotation.
“I think he’s going to still be Walker,” Roberts said. “He’s going to be attacking. But I think that there’s an attacking with his entire repertoire. I think that in years past, it was heavy fastball, heavy cutter where I think that Walker has more weapons. And I think that’s what my hope is, instead of just trying to bully guys.
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“It’s different for everyone (returning from a major injury). … As you haven’t been competing at this level for quite some time, to sort of feel, figure out, see where you’re at at this point in time. … I’m sure there’s going to be some anxiousness, some nerves, that there naturally should be, until you kind of get a couple starts under your belt. You know, Clayton Kershaw is going to have it when he comes back. So if he’s going to have that, sure as heck Walker’s gonna have that too, which is normal.”
Optioning Knack to Triple-A allowed the Dodgers to recall right-hander J.P. Feyereisen and add a fresh arm to their depleted bullpen. Feyereisen made two appearances with the Dodgers earlier this season, allowing six runs in 1⅓ innings. At OKC, he was 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances.