Walker Buehler on track to return to Dodgers after promising rehab start

The last time we got a real injury update on Walker Buehler, we learned that he had spent a month away from the team at a private facility in Florida, only checking in with the Dodgers to share the occasional video sent to trainers. It was weird. The Dodgers reportedly signed off on it, giving their two-time All-Star the right to call his own shots.

He returned in late July to start a second rehab assignment in Oklahoma City, and his first start didn't exactly give anyone hope that his month away had been productive. He pitched four innings and gave up eight hits, four runs, and two walks.

His next start on Aug. 1 went about the same way, if not worse: 3 1/3 innings, seven hits, four runs, three walks. His strikeouts were up, sure, but they were kind of negligible compared to the damage.

However, he made his third, and what was expected to be final, start on Thursday, and the result was much more promising. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, his longest outing since his May 18 start in LA, and only gave up one hit — a solo homer — while walking three and striking out five. He's expected to rejoin the rotation next week while the Dodgers head onto the road for seven games.

Walker Buehler's latest rehab outing should make Dodgers fans cautiously optimistic for his second major league return

The last time Buehler rehabbed in OKC, his last start went about the same way as it did on Thursday. Five innings, seven hits but only one run, and five strikeouts. It made both the Dodgers and fans excited to see what he'd finally be able to do after nearly two years off the mound, but we all know how that went when he did arrive back in LA.

So we might temper excitement with some caution, but hopefully Buehler will kick into another gear in these latter two months of the season. Buehler returning to his past form won't only be good for the team; he's also in a walk year, and his performance could make or break his future not only with the Dodgers, but with any team that might be interested during his free agency.

Buehler will especially need to prove his worth if the Dodgers give rookie River Ryan, who's been fantastic over his last three starts, the push in order to accommodate Buehler. He also has some way to go to redeem himself in the eyes of fans, who seem to be reaching the end of their rope with him.