Blake Snell has had a delayed spring ramp-up after experiencing offseason arm fatigue. The two-time Cy Young winner is now certain to begin the season on the 15-day injured list, though he expressed hope he won’t miss too much of the regular season.
Snell threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Thursday, his first mound work of the spring. He said afterward that he’s aiming to make his season debut by the end of April (links via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register). Snell said he’s essentially at the beginning of what would be a usual six-week Spring Training buildup.
Manager Dave Roberts was less eager to identify a specific timeline. Roberts pointed to the team’s rotation talent in noting that they “have the luxury of trying to err on the side of caution.” That’s the usual approach for the Dodgers when it comes to regular season injuries. Their roster is so loaded that they enter each season with overwhelmingly strong playoff odds. They can afford to have players skip a few regular season starts with an eye towards having them available later in the year when the games are more meaningful.
Snell’s 2025 campaign was an example of that. He only made 11 starts and threw 61 1/3 innings during the regular season because of shoulder inflammation. He was firing on all cylinders in October, though, working 34 frames of 3.18 ERA ball in the postseason. Snell had a trio of exceptional starts in the first three playoff rounds — one each in the Wild Card Series, Division Series and NLCS. The Blue Jays found some success against him over his two World Series starts, though Snell recorded a pivotal four outs in relief in Game 7 to help set the stage for Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s extra-inning heroics.
Yamamoto is the obvious choice to take the ball against the Diamondbacks on Opening Day, though the Dodgers haven’t made an official announcement. (They’re presumably waiting to see how Yamamoto’s schedule maps out during the World Baseball Classic.) Tyler Glasnow will follow. Shohei Ohtani isn’t pitching in games during the WBC, but he’s throwing side sessions and expected to be in the Opening Day rotation.
Roki Sasaki has battled his command over two Spring Training starts, walking five batters in 3 1/3 innings. That led the Dodgers to shake things up, pitching him in a minor league outing against White Sox prospects on Tuesday. Sasaki struck out nine without issuing any walks and threw 59 pitches in that backfield appearance. Roberts reiterated that the 24-year-old will open the season in the MLB rotation, telling Sonja Chen of MLB.com and other reporters he ” just (doesn’t) see a world where (Sasaki) doesn’t break with us as a starter.”
Gavin Stone is joining Snell on the season-opening injured list. That all but ensures that Emmet Sheehan will land a rotation spot. They could carry a nine-man bullpen — Ohtani doesn’t count against the 13-pitcher limit as a two-way player — or turn to one of Justin Wrobleski or River Ryan to round out a six-man rotation. They’ll inevitably go to a six-man rotation at some point but might be content with a five-man group for the first week of the regular season since they have off days on March 29 and April 2.
The Dodgers prove the old adage that you must spend money to make money.
Yeah I think the better old adage when it comes to the Dodgers as a business is location, location, location. They could cut their payroll by 50%+ and still bring in more revenue than 90% of the teams in the league.
Arm fatigue shouldn’t be IL worthy
Teams should be forced to carry said player on the roster
It’s an arbitrary unmeasurable diagnosis that has no real parameters other than the player deciding when their arm doesn’t “feel” fatigued or tired
Might as well just let players say I don’t “feel” like playing today let them ride the 60 day paid
Imagine you are pitching in a rotation where you are expected to take the ball once a week. Your arm is tired/sore, fatigued if you will. Your velocity is down, and you can’t locate properly. You start to leave pitches high because your arm trails behind your body due to the fatigue.You over compensate by trying to throw harder or even worse…you try and aim your pitches. You get shelled in your last 3 starts, get removed from the rotation and either pitch in low leverage situations the rest of the year or finally go on the IL. I would say it’s worth taking the initial IL placement to recover.
Sorry but no. These are professionals and they need to prepare as such. Even throughout the offseason. Go figure. Sorry. But this is THE HIGHEST LEVEL of professional baseball in the world. You shouldn’t get to sign big contracts like his if this is the approach. Be ready for spring training. Period.
👎
But Snell does this every year, and when he doesn’t feel like pitching he simply says “I won’t,” as he did with the Giants in the 2024 season. He’s a great pitcher WHEN he wants to be.
You can miss starts, you can be placed on a rest list…..but you shouldn’t be placed on the IL if teams wanna skip your turn cause “fatigue” go ahead. Nobody should be put on a 2 week 60 day IL cause fatigue
It’s not measurable and a player deciding when “they’re ready” isn’t a medical diagnosis
IL – INJURY LIST
Fatigue isn’t an injury. Soreness isn’t an injury
Create a rest list. RL they can miss time but doesn’t grant an extra roster spot. And players can be removed from said list at any point 1 day 2 days whatever
What would be the point if it doesn’t give you a roster spot to spell him?
The IL comes with a penalty that you have a keep a player on for a minimum number of games. And presumably that you’d be replacing him with someone lesser.
It works exactly as intended.
It doesn’t work as intended cause it’s not an injury
It’s an abuse of the system to limit players work load. Nothing more nothing else. Teams shouldn’t be rewarded for abusing the system to their advantage keeping guys fresh for later in the season when they’re magically better and feel better after weeks months of discomfort that never had a cause to begin with. If you’re feeling soreness and fatigue for weeks months without a cause something’s seriously wrong like a clot or major issue or you’re faking the severity.
Why should you be able to limit a players work load by claiming a phantom undiagnosable injury and be allowed to just replace them?
A player deciding I’m ready is different than a doctor medically clearing you to resume baseball activity
Which is why fatigue and soreness should fall under a rest list. You can be taken off whenever but you don’t gain an extra roster spot
That literally what a day to day status is. So, pointless.
Arm fatigue should be IL worthy, but for those who actually come out and pitch. This dude has thrown 60+ innings last year and still can’t get on a mound. Not much more or less the year before. Only a loaded Dodgers payroll could hand out a ridiculous amount of money for a pitcher who can only pitch in the playoffs. Ha!
Snell should teach a masterclass in how to carry a rep for excellence while pitching the least amount of games/innings possible….he’s pitched 180 innings twice in his career and not since 23…..he’s always on or ready to go on the IL or just coming off…..yet his rep is that of an Ace….
Havin a few Cy Youngs on your resume says all you need to know of his rep. The pitcher throw harder , more torque in their arms and extreme wear and tear. This isn’t the 1960’s where they throw complete games , have short careers and even less time in their prime.
Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and many many more are looking at you and your comment right now. Snell isn’t worth half the amount the Dodgers are paying. Relievers pitch the same or more then Snell in a given year
Go figure
I guarantee I would not give him that contract
Dumbest thing I have read on here.
^ dumbest poster on here
Y’all are all off on what’s going on here. dodgers don’t want him pitching and have to say smtg and that’s why it don’t make any sense. Dodgers don’t need snell til august and he’s always hurt so let him come a long slowly and gear up for the post season. That’s what’s going on yet dodgers just can’t come out and say it
Yeah, because the Dodgers are soooooo much better keeping Snell on the IL and sending River Ryan to the mound instead. Such an advantage. So unfair.
It’s the rites of Spring, or the ballet of Snell, only time will tell
River Ryan is actually a pretty good pitcher lmao he posted insane minor numbers and had a decent start to his career before injury not your best example
I will definitely agree about Ryan, but he’s coming off a major injury with TJS. He’s a talented pitcher for sure. But to think that the Dodgers would rather, or be in a better position starting Ryan over Snell is a little wild. Snell is one of the best pitchers in the game right now, while Ryan is a 27 year old prospect. I don’t think it’s the way the Dodgers had it planned when they signed Snell to that contract. That whole Dodgers staff has injury concerns, and the offense is starting to get old. The Dodgers can’t afford to give any games away.
Rest assured, he’ll most definitely be ready to pitch on September 28th.
He’ll be ready when Glasnow wants his break time
Check out Snell’s career April-mid-May stats. Woeful contrast to other months. It’s probably wise to find/create an excuse to sit him early season.
Of what year?
Nicely done, sir.
on pace to shatter his 61.1 regular season innings pitched for the Japan Deferrals..LOL
Tyler Glasnow is Cillian Murphy’s long lost kid and nobody can tell me otherwise.
I wont tell you, but I sure as heck will agree with you
Just googled both to look at pictures, you’re on to something Sweet baby !
15 pitch bullpen huh?! Thata babe! Bro, BLAKE, you just played catch for a min, thats all lol … coulda done that Christmas morning if you wanted to…act like you give af for one second man! End of April?? With the talent you KNOW you have, kind of pathetic you can’t get that “pen” in at least 1 month earlier. Cmon dude. Put the sticks down for a sec. Have a catch with a buddy one time in Decmeber and see where we’re at huh? Goodness. Pitchers be like this sometimes, I swear… lol
Relax
Maybe 2 minutes.
I thought he was having an operation to remove his foot from his mouth after his comments during the post-season.
He’s got a bad case of main character syndrome
That’s rich coming from and Astro fan
As long as he’s ready by October.
3 peat or bust!
The difference between the Braves pitching and dodgers pitching when it comes to injury history is pretty much none. Apparently both teams will always have pitchers injured to an extreme and others who you’re always worried about. Difference is, dodgers have depth or at a minimum will go get more depth if and when needed, Braves won’t
The Padres rotation has as little or even less depth than does the Braves rotation. But we don’t hear all this crying over the Padres having Vasquez, Marquez, and Buehler at the back of their rotation. Just constant chatter about how bad Bryce Elder is.
The absolute top of athleticism, in any sport, operates by different rules. Great boxers as an example. Some work like mad to make weight. fight. Then binge before going back to the gym. Some train continuously and fight 6 or 8 times a year as part of their preparation. Others train constantly but only fight every year or two and then only to defend the title.
In my view, Snell is prepping for September/October. Kershaw was full throttle On April 1 but was gassed every year when the playoffs came around. Bravesfan is absolutely correct. The Dodgers aren’t concerned about making the playoffs. But they sure as hell want Snell ready to go when they do.
While this is Snell’s yearly condition with his arm and slow start to his season, to me the Dodgers have over paid him!
Very common for mlb pitchers to have a dead arm. Former MLB pitcher Neal Heaton says it takes about 2 to 3 weeks for the arm to bounce back.Snell will fine and I’m betting he’ll grab his 3rd Cy Young this year.Doubtful he’ll pitch 200 innings as he never has.
“I’m betting he’ll grab his 3rd Cy Young”
Paul Skenes and Yoshi Yamamoto are holding on lines one and two.
I just got pushed a fanduel add for an over/under bet on Snell pitching 111.5 innings. Oddly not on his day young chances though.
What else is new? 12 days. Can’t wait….
Fake Snell feigning phantom afflictions
Cry harder
I thought they only got him for the postseason anyway.
Am I the only one who thinks the dodgers intentionally hire excess SPs so they can sit the better ones for stretches of the regular season with minor dings, both so that they can have their best at their best in the playoffs, but also so they don’t win too many regular season games?
I think they intentionally shoot for 100 wins and not more because a 120 win team would add pressure for more competitive balance measures.
The expensive part about owning a sports car isn’t the sports car itself but having to also have an alternative for the days when weather is bad or you can’t park it safely. So a sports car has to be a second car. Other teams have to spend on reliable SUV type pitchers with their big money. The Dodgers have set themselves up financially to buy multiple sports car style guys knowing they have enough WHEN guys get hurt. They’re not playing for 120 wins, they’re playing for World Series rings.
Yes! You are definitely the first person to have thought of that possibility!
To be fair, MLB The Show 26 pre-order just came out yesterday and we’re getting deep into the Fortnite Championship Series, so Snell has a lot on his plate.
JSCCubbs
How is that different then sitting your catcher in August for back to back games or pulling your 33 year old OF for a defensive replacement in the 9th inning?
It’s common knowledge around the league that any team needs multiple pitchers to get the volume of quality innings needed to get through a division winning season. If the Dodgers have realized that they don’t ‘need’ to win the division by 20 games it comes from that season where they exhausted themselves battling nose to nose with the best Giant regular season in a 100+ year history. Then were too exhausted to beat an Atlanta team in the championship series.
Sitting someone, and using the IL to take a rest without injury are not the same thing.
Of course, every player is “somewhat injured” after a month or 2.
Sheehan was always in the starting rotation, under any scenario short of him being injured.
Yeah I agree. Is Ryan even ready to pitch yet?
That Sasaki hasn’t been clicking as a starter should be a clear sign to the dodgers that he needs to be in the bullpen. It just seems like he’s in his head every time he starts. Even in spring training.
He will be a starter either for the Dodgers or at OKC.
It’s not like they have to rush him being great. He’s signed for a while.
And it’s not like they aren’t going to miss the playoffs because he had a few bad starts. They’ll do what’s best for the team long term regardless.
Exactly. He’s a long term project. The emphasis for now is development of an effective third pitch. If he struggles with it in the majors they will send him down to the minors to work on it, not give up on him being a starter.
Be has the arm to become a front end starter. That is the reason they signed him. They want to develop him as that type of starter.
We’ve already seen him in relief, so it’s not something they need to explore. When the playoffs come, he’ll either be a starter if he’s throwing great, or high leverage relief.
He’s good for 60-70 innings this season. 1/2 million an inning. Nice gig.