Walker Buehler Will NOT Return In 2023 And The Dodgers Pitching Staff Might Be Screwed

This is the first time ever that I’ve actually felt bad for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve had a remarkable season. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, two future Hall of Famers, are having some of the best seasons of their careers. It’s been an incredible run, but that pitching staff has taken a beating. Over the last several months, here’s what’s happened to the Dodgers pitching staff

Dustin May- Tommy John surgery (2nd time)

Tony Gonsolin- Tommy John surgery

Julio Urias- Arrested

Clayton Kershaw has seen time on the injured list as well. If the season ended today, their playoff rotation would be Kershaw going Game One. You never know what you’ll expect from him in the postseason. Lance Lynn would be a part of the playoff rotation. He’s been a home run machine in 2023. The Hail Mary pass to save the Dodgers pitching rotation was Walker Buehler. That Hail Mary pass has sadly come up short. Buehler will not return in 2023.

Buehler‘s potential return seemed like a long shot. He got Tommy John surgery over a year ago and has been rehabbing ever since. But I just don’t see how the Dodgers can win the World Series with this pitching staff. Buehler has not only been fantastic ever since being called up to the big leagues, he’s been dynamite in October. He has a 2.94 ERA in his postseason career and was far away the Dodgers best starter when they won the World Series in 2020. 

In Buehler‘s last full season, he put up a seven WAR, and finished fourth for the National League Cy Young award. When he’s on, he’s one of the best pitchers in the entire sport. The Dodgers have obviously missed him this season, but considering their pitching injuries, I don’t know how they can recover and make a deep October run.