LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw will start on Tuesday for the Dodgers. As for Walker Buehler, it's anybody's guess.
Moments before Friday night's game with the Rockies, the club announced that Buehler had been optioned to Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, with no corresponding move.
Kershaw -- after throwing an impressive five innings in Thursday's no-decision against the Cubs in his second start off the disabled list -- will start on regular rest against the Pirates, manager Dave Roberts said.
The move with Buehler was the latest in a flurry of unexpected transactions involving the National League Rookie of the Year candidate, who just returned from 19 days on the DL with a rib microfracture.
After a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday, Buehler flew to Oklahoma City for a Thursday rehab start with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Instead of pitching there, however, Buehler flew back to L.A. on Thursday morning and was activated to pitch in relief against the Cubs, getting battered for five runs in one-plus inning and taking the loss.
Before Friday night's roster move was announced, Roberts had said Buehler would throw a bullpen session on Sunday before a decision would be made on when he would pitch again. Now it appears he will make at least one Minor League start before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation.
Buehler is required to spend at least 10 days in the Minor Leagues after being optioned, but that rule can be waived if he is recalled to replace an injured pitcher on the big league club.
Buehler is 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA. Prior to Thursday's relief appearance, Buehler's ERA was 2.63. During last year's September callup, Buehler had a 7.71 ERA in the unfamiliar role of reliever.
Worth nothing
• Roberts said long reliever Caleb Ferguson, who pitched two innings on Thursday, will be unavailable until Sunday.