Dodgers' Walker Buehler back on IL with right hip inflammation

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler is headed back to the injured list, this time due to right hip inflammation.

Buehler, who missed most of the 2022 season and all of 2023 campaign after having a second Tommy John surgery, has been unable to approach his success of 2018 to 2021, when he won 39 games and didn't have an ERA above 3.44.

In eight starts since making his 2024 season debut on May 8, Buehler has gone 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA.

On Tuesday in Colorado, Buehler took a line drive off the hip in the third inning. He recovered to get the out at first and stayed in the game through the fourth inning. He surrendered seven runs and seven hits, including two home runs, with a walk and two strikeouts.

In a corresponding move, Los Angeles activated right-hander Bobby Miller, who on Wednesday made his first start since April 10 after spending more than two months on the injured list because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

Miller went 6 innings, his longest outing this year, but was denied the victory when Colorado scored twice in the seventh and won 7-6.

Miller, who is in second major league season, is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in four starts this year. In 22 starts as a rookie in 2023, he went 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Buehler's hip was sore for a few starts previously as well, and he would like the pitcher to regroup during the IL stint.

"I think [he's] a little bit sort of finding himself again," Roberts said. "I think he's still in search mode. So, as he's getting back to health, I think for the mind and some clarity, I think this will be a good thing."

Buehler, 29, is 47-20 with a 3.17 ERA in seven major league seasons, all with Los Angeles. He said after the Tuesday game that he would do whatever it takes to get back in winning form.

"It sucks to feel kind of invaluable, or like you're hampering your team," Buehler said. "At the end of the day, we really like our team and want to be ready for the end of the year. And I'm going to do whatever I need to do to feel like I can help our team at the end of the year, and do everything in my power to be valuable enough to be on those rosters."

Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.