But they will have to try to do so without Walker Buehler, who will undergo season-ending elbow surgery, the Dodgers announced Monday. The surgery will be performed on August 23 by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. “It’s definitely a blow,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday. “We are better off with Walker at our club. But we can’t do anything about it. I still think we have enough guys to get us through October to prevent runs. But yeah, I mean, we wanted Walker to be a part of it.” Roberts and the Dodgers gave vague answers when asked repeatedly about the type of surgery Buehler will undergo next Tuesday. The Dodgers manager added, however, that he doesn’t expect it to be Tommy John Surgery. He said he could be wrong once Dr. ElAttrache starts the process, but that’s initially good news for the Dodgers and the right-hander. What is possibly not good news is how open this injury appears to be. If the Dodgers had a clear diagnosis, it would be easy to set a reasonable timeline for Buehler’s return. But, as of now, there are too many questions and not enough answers. Roberts said the Dodgers will have more information after he undergoes the surgery. “I don’t want to preempt what might or might not be,” Roberts said. “I think it’s fair because if we had clarity about what it was before we went in, then you have a timetable. But right now we don’t. I think all of us would like to have complete clarity right now.” The only certainty the Dodgers have is that Buehler will not participate in the postseason. The goal was always to have their Open Day starter for the stretch run after Buehler suffered a Grade 2 flexor strain on June 10. Buehler has played catch several times in recent weeks. During his development, he had extended to 120 feet, but constant trouble during the Dodgers’ last inning forced the right-hander to shut things down. That’s when he underwent an MRI, which made it clear his season was over. “We took the opportunity to try to get permission, to start a promotion to bring him back for this year,” Roberts said. “Then as he went through it, we couldn’t get over the hump. We achieved it and now we have to enter.” As Roberts reported, officially losing Buehler is a significant blow to the Dodgers, who opted not to trade a starting pitcher at the Trade Deadline. Part of that thought was that they hoped to have a pitcher like Buehler back in the fold. Without Buehler, the Dodgers will continue to look to Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin to lead the rotation. Tyler Anderson was also a solid selection, making his first All-Star team. Dustin May, who will make his first start since Tommy John Surgery on Aug. 20 against the Marlins, could have a bigger role down the stretch. Then there’s Clayton Kershaw, who is currently on the disabled list with a lower back injury. Kershaw is expected to get healthy sometime in the next few weeks, which should give him time to ramp up before the season airs. “I talked to Dustin today and he’s not a savior. I just want him to come out and play well,” Roberts said. “And when Clayton comes back, he has to do his job. I don’t see it as pressure. We just don’t have a man we want to be with us.” Buehler has struggled this season when healthy, posting a 4.02 ERA over 12 starts. But few pitchers in the Majors have had the level of success Buehler has had when the lights come on in October. Last October, Buehler was their workhorse, getting twice on short rest, once in the NL Division Series against the Giants and again in the NLCS against the Braves.
