Dodgers injuries and roster moves

May 1: RHP Walker Buehler to start for Dodgers Monday
Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Buehler will be called up and start for the Dodgers on Monday at Dodger Stadium against the Marlins.

Buehler, who last appeared in the big leagues on June 10, 2022, has been recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He had the procedure after being drafted in 2015 and then again in August 2022. He made his sixth rehab appearance on Tuesday, and his performance followed by healthy recovery was enough to convince the Dodgers he is ready.

“I was really impressed because he was pitching,” Roberts said. “I thought he used his entire pitch mix really well, and the velocity was still there and he was getting outs. So last night I thought was clearly his best one.”

Roberts said he expects Buehler to have some nerves after such a long absence, but he’s sure it’s nothing the 29-year-old can’t overcome.

“I’m sure there’s going to be some anxiousness, some nerves that there naturally should be until you get a couple starts under your belt. Clayton Kershaw is going to have that when he comes back, so if he’s going to have that then sure as heck Walker is going to have that, which is normal.”

May 1: RHP J.P. Feyereisen recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City; RHP Landon Knack optioned to Triple-A
This is the third stint with the Dodgers this season for Feyereisen. He gave up three runs in one inning in the second game of the Seoul Series before being sent down to OKC, then he was recalled on April 13 and gave up three runs in one-third of an inning in his only appearance before being sent down again.

Knack, 26 and ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club’s No. 13 prospect, found himself in a rotation that is missing injured pitchers Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, and acquitted himself well, posting a 2.81 ERA over three starts. But the Dodgers’ bullpen is just as depleted as their rotation, so this move was more about needing a fresh relief arm.

RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025 (as a pitcher)
Ohtani threw for the first time on March 26 since undergoing right elbow surgery in September, getting out to 45 feet. Manager Dave Roberts said that the two-way star is “anxious … to continue to get going and keep moving forward.” Roberts recently reiterated that Ohtani will not pitch this season. (Last updated: March 25)

RHP Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: May 6
Buehler, who last appeared in the big leagues on June 10, 2022, has been recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old made his sixth rehab appearance on April 30, and his performance followed by healthy recovery was enough to convince the Dodgers he is ready. (Last updated: May 1)

RHP Blake Treinen (bruised lung)
Expected return: Early May
Treinen, who was hit by a comebacker on March 9, made the trip to South Korea with the Dodgers in hopes of being on the Opening Day roster. The right-hander, however, has not recovered as well as the Dodgers hoped and was sent on a Minor League rehab assignment. Treinen made his fourth rehab appearance on May 1, striking out one in a scoreless inning. He is scheduled to take the mound again on May 2. If he comes away feeling OK after throwing back-to-back days for the first time, that could be his final hurdle before rejoining the Dodgers’ bullpen. (Last updated: May 1)

RHP Ryan Brasier (calf strain)
Expected return: TBD
Brasier pulled his right calf muscle while doing some sprinting as part of his regular warmups before the Dodgers’ game against the D-backs on April 29 and was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 28. An MRI on April 30 revealed the strain was mild. (Last updated: April 30)

OF Jason Heyward (lower back tightness)
Expected return: TBD
Heyward suffered a setback during his recovery from a lower back issue that has been affecting him since Spring Training. The Dodgers were initially hopeful that Heyward would only miss the minimum amount of games, but the veteran outfielder has bounced back slower than anticipated. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Heyward will need a rehab assignment whenever he does get cleared to resume baseball activities. (Last updated: April 29)

RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Miller was unexpectedly placed on the injured list before the Dodgers’ game on April 13 (retroactive to April 11) with a right shoulder injury. The Dodgers, however, are optimistic it won’t be a long absence for Miller, according to a source. Miller is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts this season. (Last updated: April 13)

RHP Connor Brogdon (right plantar fasciitis)
Expected return: TBD
Brogdon, who was acquired from the Phillies in April, went on the injured list for the first time this season. The right-hander gave up a pair of solo home runs in his one appearance with the Dodgers. (Last updated: April 13)

RHP Kyle Hurt (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: No earlier than June
Hurt went on the injured list for the first time in his big league career, retroactive to April 17. It’s unclear when Hurt sustained the injury and how long he’ll be sidelined. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hurt doesn’t have to undergo further testing, which could be a good sign. The right-hander has a 1.35 ERA over 6 2/3 innings in three appearances this season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 27. (Last updated: April 27)

RHP Brusdar Graterol (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Mid- to late May
Graterol won’t be able to return until some point in mid-May, but the right-hander began his progression on April 15, throwing a “good” bullpen session, according to manager Dave Roberts. Graterol was the Dodgers’ best reliever last season. (Last updated: April 15)

RHP Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Sheehan suffered the injury in his first bullpen session of the spring and never got into Cactus League action. The right-hander has since started throwing to hitters for the first time. With Sheehan having been moved to the 60-day injured list, he’ll be out for at least two months to start the season. (Last updated: March 31)

RHP Dustin May (right flexor tendon surgery)
Expected return: 2024
After six weeks without picking up a baseball, scans revealed that May needed to undergo right elbow surgery to repair his flexor tendon. The surgery took place on July 18 and was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. There’s no firm timetable for May’s return, but a second major elbow surgery in the past three seasons puts much of his ’24 in doubt. The Dodgers placed him on the 60-day injured list to begin the 2024 season. (Last updated: Feb. 9)

RHP Tony Gonsolin (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Gonsolin had Tommy John surgery on Sept. 1, performed by team doctor Neal ElAttrache. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 19 with what was diagnosed as right forearm inflammation. Gonsolin also was placed on the IL late in the 2022 season with a right forearm strain. He started the ’23 campaign on the IL with a left ankle sprain and was 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts. He had been dealing with arm soreness for an extended period before he went on the IL. The Dodgers placed Gonsolin on the 60-day injured list on Feb. 9. (Last updated: Feb. 9)

LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: After All-Star break
Kershaw, who returned to the Dodgers on a one-year deal, won’t be ready to return until at least the All-Star break as he continues to rehab from offseason left shoulder surgery. The likely first ballot Hall of Famer pitched through the injury at the end of the ‘23 season before undergoing the procedure in November. It’s the first time in his career that he has undergone any type of arm surgery. (Last updated: Feb. 8)