Dodgers reveal Walker Buehler return date against perfect opponent

After a nearly two-year-long absence, the wait is finally over: Walker Buehler is coming back to the Dodgers. Buehler's rocky, rocky road after his second Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair has seen so many shakes and bumps; timelines were murky and hope seemed dim for a long time.

Throughout the process, it seemed like Buehler and the Dodgers disagreed about his readiness often, but now everyone's on the same page.

After a five-inning (75+ pitch) rehab outing in Triple-A on Tuesday and what seemed like a lot of equivocating on the part of the Dodgers, Dave Roberts announced that Buehler would return at the beginning of next week for the first game of a road series against the Marlins.

Walker Buehler is returning to the Dodgers on Monday for a start against the Marlins

The Marlins, who have the third worst record in baseball behind the White Sox and Rockies, are the perfect opponents for Buehler to match up against to ease him back into the majors. They snapped a seven-game losing streak with back-to-back victories against (who else?) the Rockies on Tuesday and Wednesday, marking only their second series win of the season so far.

Buehler's return is also sure to shake up the Dodgers roster even more; his starts are still likely to be spaced out and his pitch count monitored very closely, but someone will have to get the push. Gavin Stone, who's been filling in to make up for Bobby Miller's absence, or Ryan Yarbrough will probably get pushed back to the bullpen, while one of the many relievers the Dodgers have been tossing up and down between the majors and Triple-A will have to go back to OKC and get comfortable there.

Still, Buehler being back is fantastic news for a depleted Dodgers pitching staff and for him. He's been itching to be back on the mound since the postseason last year, and his moment's finally here.