Dodgers: It wasn’t the brilliant outing Walker Buehler was hoping for, but the Dodgers pitcher is happy he’s back on the mound. Making his first major league start in nearly two years Monday night, Buehler went four innings and struck out four in the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory over the visiting Marlins. “I think the ceremony of it is done, and now I can kind of focus on trying to be good and helping our team,” Buehler said. “I wish it would have gone better and thrown five or six shutout innings, but it’s done and I’m glad to be back.” The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits. He threw 77 pitches, 49 for strikes. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game that Buehler’s pitch count would be anywhere from 80 to 85. Buehler didn’t factor in the decision, but he departed with the Dodgers holding a three-run lead on the strength of four homers, including Shohei Ohtani’s fourth in three games. “I know that Walker felt all the emotion of the fans, maybe a little bit too much,” Roberts said. “I thought the first inning, there were some 98s (mph) in there. I didn’t expect to see that velocity. I think a lot of that was adrenaline. I felt the last two innings were his best as far as commanding the baseball, the stuff and the efficiency of outs.” It was Buehler’s first big league start since June 10, 2022. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star had his second Tommy John surgery on Aug. 23 that year. The first reconstructive surgery on his right elbow was in 2015 shortly after he was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers. Buehler allowed four hits his first time through the order, including RBI singles by Bryan De La Cruz and Jesús Sánchez in the first and Nick Gordon’s solo homer in the second, but only one his second time around. The biggest surprise was Buehler’s velocity. He threw 13 pitches 96 mph or harder, including a 97.6 mph fastball that leadoff hitter Jazz Chisholm Jr. fouled off in the first inning. Roberts said Buehler’s next start will be Sunday when the Dodgers wrap up a three-game series against the Padres.

Braves: Left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek was placed on the 15-day IL on Tuesday with left elbow inflammation. The move comes two days after they placed right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. Matzek, who has a 9.90 ERA in 11 games this season, was a key reliever for the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship team. He had a 2.57 ERA in 69 games that year but had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2022 and missed the 2023 season. The Braves recalled LHP Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Rangers: Marcus Semien had four hits and five RBIs, and the Rangers scored 10 times in the second inning of a 15-8 victory over the host Athletics. Jonah Heim added four hits and two RBIs as defending World Series champions extended their season-high win streak to four games, outscoring opponents 37-16 during that stretch. The Rangers sent 16 batters to the plate in the second in their biggest inning since May 23, 2015, when they also scored 10 in the third against the Yankees. The Rangers’ 15 runs matched a season high, and their 19 hits set a new mark. Kyle McCann and Seth Brown homered for the A’s, who lost their third straight game after winning six in a row.