Dodgers: Three things that can happen after Walker Buehler’s call up
With Rich Hill hitting the DL last week, the Dodgers have called up their top prospect, Walker Buehler, to start tonight against Miami.
I was going to start off by referencing the famous movie to which Buehler shares a name, but I thought better of it because we don’t need to ask where Buehler is, we know; he’s on the mound at Dodger Stadium.
For the first time in his major league career, Walker Buehler will do what the Dodgers drafted him to do; start major league baseball games.
Call me nostalgic, but this feels like familiar. Is it a coincidence that Buehler got the call just three days shy of a year after Cody Bellinger got called up? Maybe. Like Bellinger, Buehler is set to only be in the majors for a week or so before going back down to Triple-A OKC. You may remember that Bellinger was only supposed to be here for two weeks. Now? Now he’s celebrated his second bobblehead night in his career.
They don’t make those for just anybody.
Though the season has just begun, Buehler has looked strong in his three starts in Triple-A; boasting a 2.08 ERA over 13 IP, allowing no homers and striking out 16.
There’s an understandable argument against bringing Buehler up now. One could say that he needs more time to mature in the minors. An argument could also be made for the timing, saying that it’s too early in the season to use one of the greatest advantages the Dodgers have.
Full disclosure, I didn’t think the Dodgers would actually do it. I thought that they would wait to call up Buehler and either send Ross Stripling to the mound or call up Brock Stewart.
Farhan Zaidi, Andrew Friedman, and Dave Roberts, however, had something else in mind.
Nonetheless, this move is an interesting one. Here are a few different scenarios we could see play out over the next week.
1. Walker Buehler makes two major league starts and then goes back to OKC.
This scenario is probably the most likely, if we’re being honest. Cody Bellinger was able to make his case to stay on the major league roster because he was in the lineup for a majority of the games played in his first few weeks with LA. Starting pitchers are different. In order for Buehler to make it impossible for the Dodgers to send him back down, like Bellinger did, he has to pitch a gem tonight. Does he have to pitch like Clayton Kershaw in Game 5 of the 2017 NLCS? No, but he does have to make himself known in Los Angeles.
As of now, it looks like Buehler will start tonight against Miami, and pitch one of the games in Saturday’s doubleheader against the Giants.
Level of probability on a scale of 1-10: 8
2. Buehler shifts from the minors to the majors as needed, whenever injuries hit the rotation.
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Of all the potential scenarios, this one is my least favorite. Buehler is the kind of pitcher you rely on. He’s the kind of pitcher that will give you consistent W’s, as long as he’s given the chance, and given the time.
Buehler, in my opinion, should stay in the majors only until Hill gets healthy, unless he fails to give the Dodgers a reason to send him down.
We don’t know what’s going to happen this season in terms of injuries. Kershaw could get hurt again, though Dodger Nation is collectively holding their breaths in the hope that he doesn’t. Alex Wood could be placed on the 10-Day DL, or some other, unforeseen issue could fall upon the Dodgers.
No matter what, Buehler will be ready whenever, and however often he’s called.
Level of probability on a scale of 1-10: 2
3. Buehler pitches a gem and stays in the rotation for good, moving Kenta Maeda to the bullpen.
I have to say, I like this one. I really do. I am a huge fan of Kenta Maeda; the super reliever. I applaud the decision to send him to the pen in the postseason. I’ll even go as far as to say it was a stroke of genius.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers do it again.
I think I speak for all Dodger fans when I say we’re rooting for Walker Buehler. He’s the Dodgers top prospect. He’s been their top prospect ever since Bellinger came up and, well, accomplished things only he could do. Buehler has great potential. I know we writers use that word a lot, but it’s true. There are some guys out there, Buehler very much included, that have the potential to change the game.
It was said about players like Derek Jeter and Clayton Kershaw, and you can be sure it will be said again.
Level of probability on a scale of 1-10: 7
Next: Dodgers Beat the Streak Selections - April 22
So, if the calendar flips to September and a Walker Buehler bobblehead has been added to the promotional schedule, we’ll know that things have gone exactly how we all hoped they would.