Will Buehler be recovered by the start of postseason?

LOS ANGELES » Two weeks into his throwing program, Walker Buehler says he knows nothing yet.

Playing catch most days for approximately 25 throws out to 120 feet or so has not been taxing enough, Buehler said this week, to notice any difference in his elbow from the surgery eight weeks ago Monday that removed a troublesome bone spur. Nor is it enough to give any indication of how well his flexor tendon has recovered. It was the strained tendon that sent him to the Injured List to begin with.

Buehler is still two weeks away from throwing off a mound. Maybe that will give him a better idea of where things stand. Maybe the MRI he expects to get 12 weeks after the surgery will do it.

The most proven playoff performer might be the biggest unknown when it comes to what he might be able to provide this October.

“Each day, it’s been better. We’re monitoring that progress on a daily basis,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “That said, we’re gonna be smart about it. So to the extent it continues to improve day over day over day as we get into a throwing progression, if boxes keep getting checked, then I feel like he can progress to the point of being a real weapon for us in September and building up into October.

“But we’re gonna learn more as we go and we’ll factor that in.”

Just how much of a weapon Buehler can be covers a wide range – from starter to multi-inning reliever … to none of the above. There figures to be very little time left in the regular season for Buehler to build up his pitch count, making a shortened role – perhaps out of the bullpen – something the Dodgers are likely to explore.

“Yeah, I think anything is possible,” Friedman acknowledged. “A lot of it depends on when he gets off the mound and when that progression starts and where we can build him up to. We don’t know the answers to that right now other than each checkpoint is getting checked. And if that continues to happen, then I think we have a chance to build him up. If we slow it down out of an abundance of caution or whatever else, then I think he’ll be less built up.

“We’ll figure out where he is and factor it in and round out our pitching staff with the guys we have now and some combination of guys we have coming back. … We feel like that 13-man staff is absolutely going to be a strength for us in October.”

Buehler is one of 11 pitchers the Dodgers currently have on the IL (eight on the 60-day IL). Only Daniel Hudson (torn ACL) and Jimmy Nelson (Tommy John surgery) have been ruled out for the season.

Almonte out

Right-hander Yency Almonte went on the Injured List Sunday with elbow tightness. Almonte said he felt it after pitching a scoreless inning against the Giants on Wednesday. He will undergo an MRI on Monday but said he’s not concerned about it being anything serious.

“I’ve felt it before and usually just push through,” Almonte said. “I’m not worried about it.”

Right-hander Andre Jackson was promoted from Triple-a Oklahoma City to take Almonte’s spot on the active roster. If Jackson is not used out of the bullpen before then, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Jackson could be a candidate to start Wednesday’s game when Clayton Kershaw’s spot in the starting rotation comes around again. Triple-a righthander Ryan Pepiot is the other candidate.

Health updates

Justin Turner took live batting practice (along with Joey Gallo) and is on track to be activated from the Injured List when he is eligible on Tuesday.

“The training staff, Justin – he’s checked all the boxes,” Roberts said. “I think he came out of today really well. So tomorrow being an off day, unless something unforeseen happens I expect him to be activated Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, relievers Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol are scheduled to throw to hitters again on Tuesday as the final step before going out on minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignments later in the week (most likely with OKC).

Graterol is not expected to need a long rehab assignment and should be activated later this month. Treinen has not pitched since April and is not expected back until after September 1 (when rosters expand to 28).

Edwin Rios continued his rehab assignment with OKC, going 1 for 5 Sunday in his eighth game. Rios has a six-game hitting streak.