Report: Los Angeles Dodgers' Walker Buehler Could Return as a Reliever From Injury

MLB Insider Jon Heyman opines that if Buehler is get to get back by September 1, it might be as a reliever.

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Walker Buehler is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is aiming to return to the big league club in September.

He's already begun throwing bullpens but if he does get back by September, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that it could be as a reliever.

As part of a lengthy column on baseball news and notes, Heyman had this nugget on Buehler:

Walker Buehler hopes to return to the Dodgers in September, but it wouldn’t necessarily be as a starter. 

Friday MLB notes: Bader, Stearns, Moore, Soto, Hosmer, O’Neill, Urias, Buehler, Hendriks, much morehttps://t.co/d1m3ROoD1I

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 26, 2023

When healthy, Buehler is one of the best pitchers in baseball so any return to the Dodgers this season is a welcome one.

He helped the Dodgers win the World Series in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and owns a lifetime 46-16 record and a 3.02 ERA.

Buehler is a two-time All-Star (2019 and 2021) who led the league in win-loss percentage in 2019 at the age of 24. He has received Top-10 Cy Young votes in two separate seasons as well.

Buehler isn't the only Dodgers pitcher dealing with injuries. Julio Urias is also currently out with injury, as is hard-throwing Dustin May.

Despite the injuries, the Dodgers remain in first place in the National League West. They are 31-20 and open up a big series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

It's a rematch of the 2020 World Series, with the Dodgers won as part of the pandemic-shortened season.

Noah Syndergaard goes for Los Angeles while Jalen Beeks starts for Tampa. First pitch is 6:40 p.m. ET.