Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers have been dropping like flies, with Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dennis Santana all being placed on the disabled list in recent weeks.
The Dodgers bullpen has had to carry a big load because of all the injuries, leaving manager Dave Roberts hoping to get a good start from rookie Walker Buehler on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves to take some pressure off the taxed relievers.
That is exactly what it looked like it was shaping up to be, as Buehler retired the first 12 batters he faced and gave up just two hits and one run through five innings.
He seemed to be cruising with a 5-1 lead, but after a 10-pitch at-bat to Johan Camargo leading off the sixth, Buehler wound up being removed from the game with an apparent injury after just 71 pitches.
It has now been revealed that he was removed due to a rib injury, via Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA:
Walker Buehler was removed due to rib soreness.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) June 9, 2018
Buehler was hit with a comebacker on the ribs while pitching against the Colorado Rockies on May 21. It is not clear if this injury has anything to do with that incident as he has made a couple starts and shown no side effects since.
If Buehler is forced to miss time with the injury then the starting rotation will be down to two healthy bodies in Ross Stripling and Alex Wood. Maeda and Hill appear to be close to returning, which will help out the Dodgers tremendously with so many other starters currently on the shelf.
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