The Los Angeles Dodgers will get a major boost to their rotation Tuesday as starting pitcher Blake Snell will make his first start since May against the Kansas City Royals.
Snell had been on the 60 day injured list after undergoing a NanoScope procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow earlier this year. That was on top of beginning the season on the IL due to left shoulder fatigue as well. All in all, Los Angeles has gotten just 1 start out of the lefty in 2026 thus far.
“Now we’ve got Blake back. We’ve got Tarik here. We feel like we have the pieces of our starting pitching to go on a run,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But you’ve also got to play good defence behind them; we’ve got to score runs. But it does feel like every night, we should have a good chance to win a ballgame.”
A 2x Cy Young award winner, Snell was extremely effective for Los Angeles in 2025, posting a 5-4 record with a 2.35 ERA and 72 Ks across 61.1IP. The lefty completed 4 rehab starts prior to his activation, with his most recent outing lasting 73 pitches (41 strikes) with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“The goal is five and 75, but to get him through five innings would be great,” Roberts said Monday. “I think if we could get him through five [Tuesday], which would be great and which he expects, we should be able to treat him like a normal starter, given that he has an extra day or two between those starts.”
“I feel very confident. I had a good conversation with him [Sunday], and he’s on a mission,” Roberts continued. “I like when great, talented players have that mindset. He hasn’t unfortunately been a part of this whole season, but from here on out it’s a sprint, and he’s very focused.”
The 33 year old is in the 2nd year of a 5 year, $182M contract and will rejoin a Dodgers team that currently sits atop the NL West at 71-48. That mark is good for a 7.5 game lead over second place Arizona, and is all the more remarkable given the team’s recent slide.
Over their last 10 games the club is 2-8 which has allowed the Milwaukee Brewers (74-45) to overtake them for top spot in National League. Thanks to a recent hot streak of their own (7-3 in their last 10) the Atlanta Braves have also caught up to the defending World Series champions, sporting an identical record to the west coast franchise.
That should make for an interesting series against Milwaukee beginning on Thursday as the Brewers come to town for a 4 game set.
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