An MRI has confirmed that the shoulder inflammation sidelining Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell does not involve any structural damage, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. While the specifics of his treatment are still being determined, it is likely to include some form of injection, and the team remains optimistic that the two-time Cy Young Award winner will only require a brief absence from the active roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Blake Snell Hits 15 Day IL
The Dodgers officially placed Snell on the 15-day injured list on April 6th, a move that was made retroactive to April 3rd. To fill his spot on the active roster, right-hander Matt Sauer was recalled from Triple-A. Despite issuing eight walks across his initial nine innings pitched this season, Snell had managed to achieve a 2.00 ERA in his first two starts.
The shoulder issue appears to have developed between his last outing on April 2nd and a subsequent bullpen session. As Jack Harris of the L.A. Times reports, Snell discussed the issue with general manager Brandon Gomes and team trainer Thomas Albert following that bullpen session.
This marks the tenth instance of Snell being placed on the injured list in his ten-year MLB career, continuing a pattern of both health concerns and early-season struggles that have characterized his time in the league. Notably, Snell has historically been a slow starter, posting a 3.95 ERA in 555 2/3 innings before the All-Star break compared to a significantly better 2.32 ERA in 500 innings during the second halves of seasons.
These statistical splits aside, Snell’s talent is undeniable when he is performing at his peak, evidenced by his two Cy Young Awards. The 2024 season with the San Francisco Giants provided another example of his inconsistent tendencies, as he signed late in Spring Training and then endured a challenging first three months marked by injury and struggles before delivering a dominant 1.23 ERA over his final 80 1/3 innings.
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This strong finish encouraged Snell to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Giants, a decision that ultimately led to a lucrative five-year, $182 million free-agent deal with the Dodgers. While the present value of the contract is somewhat lower due to deferred payments, it still represented the significant long-term security he sought.
Snell’s early trip to the injured list with the Dodgers will inevitably raise some questions regarding the team’s substantial investment. However, there is currently no indication that his shoulder inflammation is a serious concern.
It does, however, present a challenge for the Dodgers in terms of filling his rotation spot, particularly with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki both adhering to a once-per-week pitching schedule, typical of Japanese rotations. Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski, and Bobby Miller are the most likely candidates to be called up from Triple-A to take at least one turn in Snell’s place.
Looking at the broader pitching landscape for the Dodgers, Tony Gonsolin is currently on a Triple-A rehab assignment, while Clayton Kershaw (recovering from toe and knee surgeries) and Emmet Sheehan (recovering from Tommy John surgery) are expected to become available later in the season. Shohei Ohtani is also gradually increasing his pitching workload in preparation for his Dodgers mound debut, although that is still anticipated to be at least a couple of months away.
In theory, the Dodgers possess sufficient pitching depth, both currently and potentially, to withstand another injury-affected year like 2024. However, Snell’s current situation underscores the inherent difficulty the Dodgers face in managing and maintaining a pitching staff with numerous pitchers who have faced durability questions throughout their careers.