Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that it's unlikely Buehler (elbow) will make any Cactus League appearances this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Roberts declined to offer a timetable for when Buehler will join the Dodgers' rotation, but the fact that the right-hander won't make any spring training appearances indicates that it won't be early on in the season. Buehler made just one rehab appearance last year while working his way back from his second Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old figures to stay behind in extended spring training for a while before eventually starting a rehab assignment.

Dodgers manager Dave Robert said Sunday that there's "no hard start date" for Buehler's (elbow) season debut, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers are slow-playing Buehler's throwing progression this spring after he made just one rehab appearance last year following Tommy John surgery. In addition to an undetermined date for his season debut, Buehler will also no doubt be facing workload restrictions during the 2024 campaign. It's a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Saturday that Buehler (elbow) will not be on the Opening Day roster, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers are trying to figure out the best way to manage Buehler's workload as he comes back from Tommy John surgery and have him on a "slow program," per Roberts. Whether that means the right-hander will begin the year in extended spring training, on a rehab assignment or something else has not been revealed by the club yet. It's also unclear at this juncture when Buehler might join the Dodgers' rotation, but fantasy managers probably should count on him being unavailable at least for the first month or so. Buehler also figures to have a truncated workload when he does make it back. It's a tricky situation in fantasy, but at least there's a little more clarity than we had previously.

The Dodgers are considering delaying Buehler's (elbow) season debut in 2024 as they look to manage his workload coming off Tommy John surgery, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler wasn't far off from a return late last season, as he made one rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was having some trouble rebounding from throwing sessions, though, and the Dodgers made the decision to shut him down. Because he threw only 65 innings in 2022 and just two in 2023, Buehler was never going to come close to a full workload in 2024. The Dodgers have not yet made a decision on how exactly his workload will be limited, but delaying his season debut might be the most likely option as the team tries to have him ready for October. "He'll be ready to go in spring training, but when we decide to make his debut in 2024 is going to be determined," manager Dave Roberts said in December. "Whether it's the first week or a month later, we're going to kind of wait and see how spring goes."

The Dodgers and Buehler avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.025 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's the same salary Buehler received in 2023 when he missed the entire season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old was eligible for arbitration for the final time, as he's currently slated to hit free agency next winter. Buehler did begin a rehab assignment in September and is slated to be ready to roll for Opening Day, although workload restrictions are likely.

Buehler (elbow) will not pitch for the Dodgers in 2023.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2022. He threw two scoreless innings during his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. However, with the Dodgers shifting their focus to getting Buehler ready for the start of 2024, it's unclear whether the 29-year-old righty will continue making rehab appearances in the minors.

Buehler (elbow) will make his next rehab start Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler looked sharp in his rehab debut Sunday with OKC, tallying two strikeouts over two perfect innings in what was a 24-pitch outing against the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers. He's expected to make at least two more starts on the farm -- including Friday -- before possibly stepping in as a rotation replacement for Julio Urias following his weekend arrest on a felony domestic violence charge. Buehler is a little over 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery.

Buehler (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler tossed 24 pitches (15 strikes) en route to retiring the side in the first and second innings. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News, Buehler's fastball sat between 93 and 96 miles per hour in the first inning, and he was able to mix in a cutter, slider, sinker and curveball to complement the heater. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Buehler will likely need at least two more rehab starts prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, making mid-to-late September the target for his 2023 debut with the Dodgers.

Buehler (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler has been throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex since early August, though he'll make a long-awaited step forward to rehab games. He's expected to throw one or two innings in his first appearance and will need to make at least three starts before being activated. That could line Buehler up for a return in mid-to-late September, barring setbacks.

Buehler (elbow) will continue throwing to hitters at the Dodgers' training complex in Arizona, as he has yet to toss more than one inning, per MLB.com.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler began throwing to live hitters Aug. 9 and has continued to take part in one-inning simulated games. He appears to have avoided any setbacks, but the fact that he hasn't yet gone more than one frame suggests that he's still several weeks away from a return. Buehler will eventually need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before he's cleared to make his 2023 debut with the big-league club.