Walker Buehler will start Monday against the Marlins at Dodger Stadium, manager Dave Roberts told reporters at Chase Field in Phoenix after the Dodgers’ win over the D-backs to close out a 7-2 road trip.

Walker Buehler will make his MLB return from Tommy John surgery on Monday against the Marlins, Dave Roberts said.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 2, 2024

#Dodgers Walker Buehler will start on Monday, making his return to big leagues since June 2022.

— Kirsten Watson (@kirsten_watson) May 2, 2024

For Buehler, it will be his first major league game in 696 days, since June 10, 2022.

He’s spent the better part of the time since then rehabbing from Tommy John surgery — his second such procedure — as well as flexor tendon repair in his right elbow in August 2022.

Buehler rehabbed in the minors for roughly a month, starting six total games, five for Triple-A Oklahoma City and once for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. The right-hander was sharp in his final rehab start on Tuesday in Oklahoma City against the Bees — no not those Bees — striking out five in five innings, allowing only a run.

Buehler also made a rehab start late last year in Triple-A, but after that two-inning outing, he and the Dodgers decided to shut things down so Buehler could focus on returning in 2024. He opened this season on the injured list, and will likely be on an innings limit this year after pitching so sparingly over the previous two years.

In those six rehab starts in 2024, Buehler had a 4.15 ERA, allowing 13 runs (10 earned runs) in 21⅔ innings, with nine walks and 21 strikeouts.

Earlier Wednesday, the Dodgers optioned Landon Knack, who made three starts for LA, opening up a spot in the rotation for Buehler. In the interim, the Dodgers will have eight relievers, with J.P. Feyereisen recalled for the series finale in Phoenix.

On Monday against the Marlins, Buehler will be pitching on his five days rest, as he did on all of his minor league rehab starts.