Projected Dodgers Playoff Rotation: Clayton Kershaw update, Walker Buehler leap

The weekend was packed with Dodgers pitching news, and most of it wasn't great. Tyler Glasnow sprained his elbow, certainly shutting down any hope that he was going to make it back to the team for the postseason; he cleaned out his locker in the visitor's clubhouse at Truist Park between games and left the team, which definitely raised a few eyebrows.

Dave Roberts finally acknowledged that the Dodgers probably won't be seeing Clayton Kershaw again this season either as he deals with a bone spur in his toe. In both the first and second games of the series, Landon Knack and Jack Flaherty were roughed up by Braves hitters to mark the two losses in the four-game set.

However, an unexpected savior took the mound on Sunday night's game. Walker Buehler days don't exactly inspire confidence in fans anymore, but Buehler pitched six innings (he's only done that two other times this season) and gave up three hits and just one earned run. The walks were still a problem (he gave out five free bases), but it was certainly his best start since coming back from his second IL stint.

But the Dodgers' postseason rotation is still very much in question. We predicted what it might look like with Yoshinobu Yamamoto back (and looking good) just over a week ago, but we're already having to re-evaluate.

Predicting the Dodgers' 2024 postseason rotation (again) with more bad injury news

1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2. Jack Flaherty
3. Walker Buehler
4. Landon Knack

Yamamoto and Flaherty are the easy ones here. Flaherty's start against the Braves, which lasted three innings and saw four runs surrendered on five hits and four walks, was undeniably his worst of the season. It lead to an ugly 10-1 victory for Atlanta, but we should remain optimistic that Flaherty was just having a bad night.

The second half of the playoff rotation is where some questions might arise. Because Glasnow and Kershaw are decidedly not coming back, Buehler is probably in easily, especially after his performance on Sunday. However, Knack and Bobby Miller potentially competing for the fourth spot could shuffle some things. If Buehler has one more start in him through the last two weeks, his spot could very well be in jeopardy if he completely blows it again. Knack didn't look so hot either during the Braves series opener, and he has less experience than Miller.

But Miller has been even more of a Wild Card than Buehler. Unlike Buehler, Miller doesn't have a Tommy John surgery to point to as the reason for all of his troubles this season, and he's shown even fewer indications that he'll be able to turn into what the Dodgers expected him to be. His 12.54 ERA over his two starts this month is a little horrifying, so LA might be inclined to take a chance on the rookie instead.

So only half of this rotation is even remotely reassuring about the Dodgers' chances in the postseason, but if we had to find some small, silver lining here, it'd be that at least some questions have finally be answered. No Glasnow and Kershaw; the Dodgers will have to make do with the rest.