Dodgers Expect Blake Snell to Make Another Start Before Postseason

The Dodgers remain optimistic that Blake Snell will pitch again before the postseason begins.

Dave Roberts said Friday that Los Angeles would like Snell to make another regular-season start after the left-hander exited Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with left groin tightness.

The desire to get Snell back on the mound is not about pushing him through an unresolved injury.

It is about making sure he is properly prepared for October.

Roberts explained that simply resting Snell through the remainder of the regular season could create too long of a break between competitive outings. The Dodgers want him healthy, but they also do not want him entering the postseason without enough recent game action to be ready for a playoff workload.

No date has been selected for his next start, and Snell has not been officially cleared to return.

Dodgers Want Snell Healthy and Properly Built Up

Snell threw only 19 pitches during Wednesday’s start in Cincinnati.

He completed a scoreless first inning, allowing one single and recording one strikeout before Blake Treinen replaced him in the second.

Snell first felt discomfort while throwing one of his final warmup pitches in the bullpen. He attempted to pitch through it but told Roberts and the training staff after the first inning that something did not feel right.

The decision to remove him was precautionary. Snell later acknowledged that continuing to pitch could have turned the tightness into a more significant strain.

That early exit, however, left him with almost no meaningful workload from the start.

If the Dodgers were to shut him down until October, Snell could face a lengthy gap between competitive appearances. Roberts does not want the left-hander trying to rebuild his sharpness and stamina during a postseason game.

Another regular-season start would give Snell an opportunity to test the groin, restore some of that lost workload and maintain the rhythm he established before Wednesday’s setback.

Snell’s Next Start Has Not Been Scheduled

The Dodgers’ optimism should not be confused with a confirmed return plan.

Snell’s next appearance will depend on how his groin responds over the coming days and whether he can complete the necessary throwing work without experiencing another problem.

“I like where his head is at, but he just can’t afford any more setbacks,” Roberts said after Wednesday’s game.

That remains the central concern.

Snell has dealt with groin and adductor injuries at multiple points in his career, including two injured-list stints while pitching for the Giants in 2024. The Dodgers will therefore need to see more than an initial reduction in soreness before placing him back into the rotation.

The club could push his turn back or adjust his workload depending on his progress.

There is still enough time remaining in the regular season for Snell to make another appearance, but Los Angeles has not announced when that could happen or how many pitches he would be expected to throw.

Snell Had Been Dominant Since Returning From Elbow Surgery

The timing of the injury is particularly frustrating because Snell had settled into his best stretch of the season.

After undergoing arthroscopic surgery in May to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, Snell returned to the rotation in August and quickly regained his form.

He entered Wednesday having gone 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA and 46 strikeouts across his previous six starts. He had not allowed more than one run in any of those outings.

Including his abbreviated appearance in Cincinnati, Snell has a 4-1 record with a 1.86 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 38⅔ innings this season.

His performance placed him firmly in the Dodgers’ projected postseason rotation alongside Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.

That is why the Dodgers are balancing two different priorities.

They cannot risk turning tightness into a strain by bringing Snell back too quickly. At the same time, allowing him to go several weeks without a proper start could leave him short of the preparation needed to handle a playoff assignment.

Another Start Would Be an Important October Test

If Snell does return before the end of the regular season, the results on the scoreboard will be less important than his health and readiness.

The Dodgers will want to see him pitch without favoring the groin, maintain his normal delivery and recover properly afterward.

A successful start would give Los Angeles greater confidence that Snell can remain part of the postseason rotation. Another setback would force the Dodgers to reconsider their pitching plans with very little time remaining.

For now, the outlook is encouraging—but still unsettled.

The Dodgers expect Snell to pitch again before October because they believe another start will help prepare him for the postseason. They have not yet determined when he will be ready to make it.