The Los Angeles Dodgers have only seen brief flashes of what Blake Snell can offer this season — and now, his road to recovery has taken another hit. Snell, the high-profile offseason acquisition, is battling shoulder discomfort that’s keeping him sidelined, and manager Dave Roberts has provided a disappointing update.
According to L.A. radio sports host David Vassegh, Snell was pulled from his scheduled bullpen session after experiencing discomfort during a game of catch on Wednesday. “Dodgers scrapped Blake Snell bullpen session after he felt discomfort after playing catch yesterday,” Vassegh reported on X (formerly Twitter). “Snell will be reexamined when team returns to Los Angeles.”
Roberts emphasized that the organization is prioritizing long-term health over rushing him back to the mound. “The Dodgers have stressed the big picture,” said Vassegh, citing Roberts. “They don’t want Snell pitching through anything.”
Just a day earlier, there was cautious optimism that Snell might be gearing up for a return, potentially in time to face the Chicago Cubs. That hope has now been tempered, with the shoulder issue proving to be more persistent than initially thought.
Snell has been on the injured list since April 6, a move that mandated at least 15 days of rest. In his absence, Matt Sauer was called up to bolster the pitching staff.
The Dodgers signed Snell to a massive five-year, $182 million contract during the offseason, adding a second Cy Young Award winner to their rotation. However, his debut season in L.A. has been rocky.
He pitched five innings in the home opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out just two. His second outing, against the Atlanta Braves on April 2, saw similar struggles — five more hits and five runs surrendered in four innings, with only two strikeouts.
Despite the tough starts, Snell carries a 2.00 ERA and holds a 1-0 record. Still, for a pitcher of his caliber, the Dodgers were clearly hoping for more consistency and durability. Now, all eyes are on the upcoming evaluation back in Los Angeles, as fans and the team alike hope for a clearer path forward in Snell’s recovery.
