Amidst a flood of rumors and speculation that Dodgers top pitching prospect Walker Buehler would be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start Monday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in place of left-hander Rich Hill, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list on April 18 (retroactive to April 15) for what was initially reported as inflammation in his left middle finger but later described as “a cracked fingernail,” those rumors and speculation were officially confirmed on Sunday afternoon.

Although the 23-year-old Lexington, Kentucky native and Dodgers 2015 first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt University appeared in eight games for the Dodgers late last season, they were all in relief. In those eight relief appearances, the 6′-2″ / 175-pound right-hander with a fastball that hovers around the century mark posted a 1-0 record and 7.71 ERA, while striking out 12 and walking eight over his combined 9.1 innings pitched.

Buehler made the first pitch of his major league career on September 7, 2017 following his September 1 call-up.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

As most Dodger fans know, the Dodgers drafted Buehler to be a starting pitcher and did so knowing that he would immediately need Tommy John surgery, which was why the former Vanderbilt ace was still available when the Dodgers 24th selection in the first round came up. And while many saw this as a huge gamble to make for a pitcher who wouldn’t even be able to pick up a baseball for 16 to 18 months, it appears that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi have once again proven their baseball prowess.

Walker, who began the 2018 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City (much to the displeasure of Dodger fans everywhere), has a 1-0 record and an outstanding 2.08 ERA in his three starts with the OKC Dodgers. He has struck out 16 and walked four over his combined 13.0 innings pitched – all as a starter – without having allowed a home run.

The big question, of course, is whether or not Buehler’s start on Monday against Don Mattingly’s 5-15 Marlins (as of Saturday night) will be a one-and-done spot start, or if the extremely popular and very humble right-hander is here to stay following his first MLB start. Although this, too, lends itself to a flood of rumors and speculation, there is every reason to believe that Rich Hill will be activated from the disabled list when his 10 days are up (which will be on Wednesday, April 25) in time for his next scheduled start in San Francisco next weekend, when the Dodgers will play four games in three days due to an April 6 rainout necessitating a doubleheader on Saturday, April 28.

That being said, and precisely because of Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader, keeping Buehler up at least through Saturday is both practical and feasible, although it would require a roster move. Then again, there is always a chance that Hill’s already suspicious “cracked fingernail” might need a few extra days to fully heal … if you get my drift.

…especially if Buehler has a really good starting debut on Monday.

Stay tuned.