Dodgers: Walker Buehler set to make summer camp debut

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Walker Buehler is finally set to return to the mound.

When the Los Angeles Dodgers returned to action on July 3 in prep of the coronavirus-shortened season, it was anyone’s guess as to whether each player would be ready to perform at a high level after spending nearly four months of living in quarantine.

The most pressing concern was with the starters. How long would it take to stretch out their arms before the July 23 opener against the San Francisco Giants?

Well, if you’ve been watching the intra-squad games, you know several of the starters – Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling – look ready to go. Even Julio Urías looked sharp the other night.

Where has Walker Buehler been?

But what about Walker Buehler? Where has the young Ace been? Why isn’t he pitching on par with the rest of the staff?

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on a Zoom conference on Thursday that Buehler will make his summer camp debut on Friday, when the right-hander plans to pitch two innings to slowly work his way up to full speed.

The 25-year-old threw a bullpen session yesterday, per Roberts, and the team feels confident he will be ready for the season. However, they will be “careful” in the number of innings they allow him to pitch in the early going.

Roberts explained why Buehler is behind the other starters earlier this week.

"“With Walker, he took some time off with the uncertainty, and that was his decision. [Pitching coach] Mark [Prior] was in tune with it,” Roberts said on a Zoom call on Tuesday (h/t TrueBlueLA.com). “The build-up period for Walker is just going to take a little bit longer. I think ultimately we get him, once the season starts, three or four innings with some guys behind him, he’ll be fine, and we’ll just continue to build him up.”"

Buehler is coming off an All-Star season in which he finished with an impressive 14-4 record, his 77.8 winning percentage tops in the National League. He has also proven to be the Dodgers’ best big game pitcher. It seems only a matter of time before he is taking the torch from Kershaw as the next Opening Day starter for years to come.

As the Dodgers ease him into this coronavirus shortened season, they will rely on expanded rosters over the first month of the season to carry extra pitchers who can pick up the extra workload.