Dodgers: Walker Buehler Optioned, Brock Stewart Recalled
After a great start on Saturday afternoon against the Giants, the Dodgers optioned Walker Buehler back to Class A Rancho Cucamonga. In a corresponding move, Brock Stewart was recalled and will be up with the team today.
Walker Buehler was optioned back to Rancho Cucamonga.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) April 29, 2018
Buehler tossed five innings in Saturday’s first game, and was great after the first inning. He struck out six and allowed just one walk despite batters working full counts often. After the first inning, it looked like Buehler might not even make it through the third inning. He managed to work some quick outs though, and made it through five throwing 94 pitches.
Brock Stewart has made four starts at AAA Oklahoma City this year. He has thrown 18.2 innings and allowed five earned runs for an earned run average of 2.41 on the year. He has also struck out twenty batters and walked just six.
Stewart will obviously not start today’s game, but it is possible he will go tomorrow. The Dodgers do not have a scheduled starter for Monday’s tilt against Arizona.
Yasiel Puig was also places in the disabled list prior to Sunday’s game. Puig hurt his hip running into a wall in foul territory, and later exited the game. He fouled a ball off of his leg in his last at bat resulting in an early exit. Puig will likely hit the 10-day DL.
Analysis
Most will probably be upset to see Buehler go down, but it is not about performance. They simply need to make space on the roster to allow a replacement out of the bullpen or to spot-start. The fact that they sent him tlocally to Class A tells us that he will not be gone for long. It certainly looks as though Buehler will be a big part of the Dodgers’ roster all season long.
I don’t understand this move at all! Why send Buehler (a starter) down to class A and then bring up another starter? You have Stripling in the pen that can give you a fill-in starter if needed; why not bring up a reliver? For that matter, why is Baez still in the majors, is AAA void of relief pitchers? Very confusing.
If I was king, I would move Maeda to the pen and put Buehler in the rotation for good.
One last thought on Roberts benching Bellinger for not hustling; what happened to the theory “never make the first on last out at third base”? Didn’t Roberts see that Bellinger was down to one knee to hit the pitch? Think about benching Dave Roberts!
I have to agree with Ron Carr on Buehler benching, he didn’t get out of the box cleanly, and if he had been thrown out at 3rd he would have really looked bad.
Sorry , meant Bellinger!