Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Blake Snell appears to have dodged a bullet. The 32-year-old is on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation and was shut down after a setback while playing catch on Tuesday.
However, here is the latest from manager Dave Roberts, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Roberts’ announcement is not necessarily good news, but it is also not bad news.
Snell’s situation is far too murky to make any further speculation, but this is still an unnerving time after what he endured last season. In April of 2024, then with the San Francisco Giants, Snell was placed on the 15-day IL and missed about a month of game action.
Snell is as good as they come when healthy, but these lingering injuries are cause for concern, especially after signing a massive five-year, $182 million contract this offseason.
This is a frustrating time for Dodgers fans. After watching Snell pitch for the rival San Diego Padres and the Giants in previous years, they finally acquired him, but will now have to wait patiently for more developments on Snell’s shoulder.
The two-time Cy Young winner was having a solid 2025, with a 2.00 ERA and 4.80 FIP through two starts and 11 innings. He also, however, had eight walks to four strikeouts.
In his 10-year MLB tenure, he has never surpassed 181 innings and reached the 180-mark just twice (2018, 2023, both of his Cy Young seasons).
Los Angeles is getting starting pitching reinforcements with Tony Gonsolin expected back next week and Clayton Kershaw on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tulsa.
Even if Snell is out until, say, the All-Star break, the Dodgers are well-positioned to eat innings and navigate the National League West. This is a team that should already have October on its mind.
