walker buehler-los angeles dodgers May 21, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) is examined by trainer Neil Rampe (center) after being hit by a batted ball in the fifth inning as shortstop Chase Utley (left) watches against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Tuesday that rookie sensation Walker Buehler has been placed on the disabled list with a rib injury, halting a season in which the 23-year-old righty had posted a 2.63 ERA and 2.26 FIP while striking out more than a batter an inning.

In a vacuum, Buehler’s injury would be a hit to the Dodgers, who currently stand 33-32, three games back of the first-place Diamondbacks. But given the scope of the team’s injury woes, particularly in the rotation, it’s a borderline disaster. Check out this list of sidelined L.A. hurlers:

On that list you have one of the best pitchers on earth (Kershaw), an All-Star caliber rookie (Buehler), three rock-solid mid-rotation arms (Hill, Maeda, Ryu), a 21-year-old uber-prospect (Urias) and several useful complementary pieces. Healthy all at once, this group could form one of the best rotations in baseball, plus a good bullpen.

With all those guys out, however, the Dodgers’ rotation is… underwhelming. L.A. will send Caleb Ferguson to the mound Tuesday for his second career start, days after he allowed four earned runs in a four-out major-league debut. Maeda will return from the disabled list Wednesday, not a moment too soon, to join the solid Alex Wood, surprise star Ross Stripling and the deeply underwhelming Brock Stewart in a piecemeal rotation.

An optimist might point out that the Dodgers have managed to play .500 baseball despite this rash of injuries and could surge once some of these guys return. Less of an optimist would wonder just how long the team can stay above water with four-fifths of its Opening-Day rotation, plus key reinforcements and bullpen arms (to say nothing of All-Star shortstop Corey Seager), on the disabled list.

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.