LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Heat athletic trainer Neil Rampe walks off the field with starting pitcher Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he leaves because of an injury in the fifth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig connects with an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a RBI single in the first inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the second inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy stands near the mound as Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal, background left, rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp stands in the batter’s box during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, right, is greeted by Yasmani Grandal after scoring on a single hit by Yasiel Puig during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal celebrates his home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman takes off his helmet after striking out in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal rounds the bases after hitting a home run, his second home run of the game, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal celebrates as he trots toward home plate after hitting his second home run of the game during the fourth inning Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves’ Nick Markakis scores on a double hit by Kurt Suzuki during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy, right, hands the ball to manager Brian Snitker during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson, right, celebrates his home run with third base coach Chris Woodward during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy, center, leaves the mound after he was relieved by manager Brian Snitker during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves’ Ryan Flaherty flips his bat after swinging at a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy, left, celebrates his home run with Matt Kemp during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman hits an RBI double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pat Venditte throws against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pat Venditte throws against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run on a RBI single by Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds third on his way to score a run on a RBI single by Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Kurt Suzuki #24 doubles in Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves as he beats the throw from Joc Pederson #31 to Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he scores a run on a double by Kurt Suzuki #24 of the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Kurt Suzuki #24 doubles in Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves as he beats the throw from Joc Pederson #31 to Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he scores a run on a double by Kurt Suzuki #24 of the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Max Muncy #13 gets a high five from Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a solo home run in the fifth fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the fifth fifth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run in the fifth fifth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Yasmani Grandal #9 is greeted in the dugout by Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting his second solo home run of the game in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Kurt Suzuki #24 of the Atlanta Braves hits a RBI double over a leaping Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after a solo home run in the fifth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Starting pitcher Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers returns to the dugout as he leaves the game due to an injury in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 08: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated in the dugout after a solo home run in the eighth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez can’t catch a home run hit by Atlanta Braves’ Johan Camargo during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson, from left, Enrique Hernandez and Matt Kemp celebrate the team’s 7-3 win against the Atlanta Braves in a baseball game, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LOS ANGELES — As the Dodgers have inched toward the top of the National League West standings for the past month, the arrival of Walker Buehler has made a sizable impact.
The rookie pitcher and top prospect has added a valuable arm to a starting rotation overrun with injuries.
In a 7-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night, Buehler was about as effective as he’s been since his late April call-up.
The right-hander carried a perfect game into the fifth, setting down the first 12 batters he faced, a stretch that ended when Nick Markakis singled into center field to lead off the inning. Markakis scored on the next at-bat when Kurt Suzuki doubled, the lone run Buehler allowed.
It was an effort that rivaled perhaps his best start in a 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres in Mexico City last month, when Buehler pitched six innings of a combined no-hitter.
But Buehler left in the sixth inning Friday after a mound visit from Manager Dave Roberts and a team trainer, and he appeared to be the latest to face an injury setback. When his last two fastballs dipped in velocity to 95 mph, it was of concern to Roberts. According to Brooks Baseball, Buehler’s velocity has sat at an average of 97 mph this season.
“It just seemed like he wasn’t letting it go like he was earlier,” Roberts said. “For me, that was a big red flag, that he was protecting.”
Roberts said Buehler experienced soreness in his ribs, side effects from when he was hit there by a line drive during a start against the Colorado Rockies on May 21. Buehler was in pain Friday and had trouble breathing, Roberts said, despite the strong outing.
Over 5-1/3 innings against the Braves, Buehler allowed two hits and one run, while striking out four and walking none on a season-low 71 pitches.
“To his credit, he’s as tough as they come and wanting to stay in there,” Roberts said. “But obviously it was a no-brainer for us.”
Buehler was scheduled to undergo imaging scans and further tests late Friday with a timetable for his return uncertain. Buehler, who left before speaking with reporters, has undergone unspecified treatment in recent weeks.
If Buehler misses subsequent starts, it would be another setback for the Dodgers’ injury-riddled rotation. Four of the five pitchers in their Opening Day rotation have already hit the disabled list this season.
“If you’re a pitcher on this staff, heads up,” Roberts quipped.
Other Dodgers marveled at the latest development.
“When we saw Doc and the trainer come out, we’re like, ‘Man, this is crazy,’ I’ve never seen anything like it,” first baseman Cody Bellinger said. “But our organization is so good at depth and this is the reason why.”
With the win, the Dodgers (32-31) saw their record climb above .500 for the first time since April. They have won 16 of their last 21 games and moved into a three-way tie with the Rockies and San Francisco Giants for second place in the NL West, 1-1/2 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks (33-29).
The Dodgers gave Buehler enough early insurance with plenty of power against Atlanta (36-27).
Catcher Yasmani Grandal drove a pair of solo home runs into center field in the second and fourth innings, landing in nearly identical spots and energizing much of the crowd of 47,262 at Dodger Stadium. His second blast gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
Only eight previous times had Grandal homered in the same game.
Joc Pederson and Max Muncy, who batted atop the lineup Friday, followed with a pair of two-out solo home runs in the fifth inning. For Pederson, it was his sixth home run in as many games.
The Dodgers finished with a season-high five solo home runs, capped by a 410-foot blast by Bellinger into the right-field bleachers – his fourth in four games. They have hit 22 home runs in their past seven games.
“We’re finally playing with confidence,” Bellinger said.
Much of the damage came against former Dodger Brandon McCarthy, the veteran right-hander who was traded in the offseason as part of a salary dump.
In his return to Dodger Stadium, McCarthy allowed four earned runs on five hits in 4-2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one. He was removed from the game after surrendering the solo homer to Pederson.
Roberts mused on whether his players’ familiarity with McCarthy helped, especially Grandal.
“No one knows him better than his catcher,” Roberts said.
Roberts said right fielder Yasiel Puig, who left the game in the sixth inning, exited due to an “in-house thing,” but would return to the lineup Saturday.
