Buehler (back) fired a pair of scoreless innings in relief Saturday, allowing one hit while striking out five in a spring win over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers had been slow-playing their talented prospect from his minor back ailment. The extra rest apparently did wonders for the 23-year-old, as he was dialing his fastball up in the high 90s in Saturday's outing. Buehler will likely start the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City due to the Dodgers' crowded rotation. That said, several of their projected starters spent time on the disabled list last year, so Buehler could make his first major-league start at some point this season. The flamethrowing righty posted a 12.6 K/9 across four levels (including a brief September callup) last season, so he should fantasy owners' radars regardless of whether or not he makes the Opening Day roster.

Buehler (back) will make his Cactus League debut during Saturday's game against the Cubs, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler recently appeared in a minor-league game Monday, which marked the first time he faced live hitters this spring. After completing that outing without any sort of setback, Buehler will take on the next step in his recovery by throwing in a major-league game. If all goes well, the 23-year-old should be fully healthy heading into April, where he will likely begin the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Buehler could throw 140 to 150 innings this year, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler threw 98 innings across four levels last season, including a 9.1-inning stint in the majors in September. The 23-year-old righty is likely to begin the year in the rotation at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but the Dodgers like to rotate through a large number of pitchers and Buehler has the talent to stick with the big club when he does arrive. Buehler's value in redraft leagues will depend on what portion of those 140 to 150 innings are thrown in the majors, though this is at least a small increase over the 135-inning cap reported earlier in the offseason.

Buehler (back) will pitch in a minor-league game Monday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This will mark Buehler's first time facing live hitters this spring, as a minor back injury prompted the Dodgers to ease him into action early on in camp. Barring any setbacks Monday, Beuhler should continue to ramp things up before ultimately making his Cactus League debut. The 23-year-old is expected to open the year with Triple-A Oklahoma City, but could join the Dodgers' rotation in the summer.

The Dodgers are bringing Buehler (back) along slowly in camp, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports. "We're slow playing Walker," manager Dave Roberts said.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler apparently tweaked his back sometime in January, and while the issue isn't thought to be anything overly serious, the Dodgers are playing it safe with the highly-regarded prospect and easing him into action early on in camp. According to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times, the 23-year-old threw a successful bullpen session Sunday and is expected to progress to facing live hitters sometime next week before making his Cactus League debut. Buehler is expected to open the year with Triple-A Oklahoma City as the Dodgers look to limit his workload, but he could join the big club's rotation in the summer if he shows improved command.

General manager Farhan Zaidi said he doesn't expect Buehler to be in the Dodgers' starting rotation to open the 2018 season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers have an excess amount of starting pitchers, so they'll play it safe with their top prospect and keep him out of the big-league rotation to start the season in an attempt to limit his workload. "We have to find a way to maximize his impact over the full season," Zaidi said. While nothing has been confirmed, it sounds like Buehler will open the year with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and if he shows improved control, he could join the Dodgers' rotation early in the summer. Los Angeles will likely cap him around 135 innings this season.

Manager Dave Roberts said Buehler will work as a starter in 2018, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler finished last season as a reliever after earning a September callup, though the Dodgers have always viewed the talented righty as a starter in the long term. While he struggled during his brief stint with the big club, posting a 7.71 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB in 9.1 innings, the 23-year-old compiled a more respectable 3.35 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 125:31 K:BB through 88.2 innings across three levels of the minors prior to his promotion. He misses bats at an impressive clip and has front-of-the-rotation stuff, headlined by a plus curveball and a fastball that can serve as another reliable offering. The Dodgers have starters to burn, however, so Buehler will likely be competing for a back-end rotation spot in spring training.

Buehler had his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Buehler, one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, will join the Dodgers after starting the season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and working his way up to Triple-A by July. He compiled a 3.35 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 125:31 K:BB through 88.2 innings across all three levels of the minors. While the Dodgers view him as a starting pitcher in the long term, he's expected to pitch out of the bullpen down the stretch.

Buehler will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

He is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, and reached Triple-A after starting the year at High-A. Buehler has a 3.35 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 125:31 K:BB in 88.2 innings across three levels. Unfortunately, it seems he is poised to occupy a bullpen role in his big-league debut, as his last nine appearances have come out of the Oklahoma City bullpen. He could be dominant in such a role, thanks to a plus-plus curveball and a fastball which serves as another 70-grade offering, especially in short bursts.

Buehler has been pitching out of the bullpen in his previous two outings with Triple-A Oklahoma and could finish the year as a reliever, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 2015 first-round pick has pitched well since returning from Tommy John surgery (3.32 ERA and 12.5 K/9 across three levels in the minors this season), but the Dodgers want to limit his workload by pitching him out of the 'pen. General manager Andrew Friedman acknowledged the workload limitations, but he also mentioned that the club is "getting a chance to see [Buehler] in that role to the extent that it potentially makes sense to bring him up in September." It doesn't sound like the conversion is a permanent one, but a move from a starter to a reliever would certainly hurt Buehler's dynasty appeal, especially in an organization that has a dominant closer like Kenley Jansen who effectively blocks any reliever from getting fantasy-relevant save opportunities for the foreseeable future.