Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler has been ruled out as a replacement for Clayton Kershaw as the team’s Opening Day starter.
Buehler has been slowed by shoulder issues and was scheduled to make his spring debut Tuesday night.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Monday afternoon that Kershaw’s franchise-record streak of consecutive Opening Day starts would end at eight due to the left-hander’s slow spring ramp-up because of shoulder inflammation.
Roberts, after his team’s game Monday night, added that Buehler also wouldn’t be available for March 28, when the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Buehler, 24, went 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 24 appearances (23 starts) last season while finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.
Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenta Maeda are the top candidates to be the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter.