Blake Snell is inching toward a return, but questions linger as the Los Angeles Dodgers navigate an increasingly crowded injured list. After being sidelined since April 3 with left shoulder soreness, the two-time Cy Young Award winner resumed throwing this week, tossing out to 60 feet following a check-up with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. “The doctor’s visit went well,” manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, signaling cautious optimism.
Still, Snell’s recovery has been anything but smooth. He experienced continued discomfort after an April bullpen session and received a shoulder injection on April 23 that did little to accelerate progress. He had not thrown in nearly three weeks before this recent update, casting doubt on his short-term timeline.
Signed to a five-year, $182 million deal this past winter, Snell was expected to be a cornerstone of the rotation. But after just two starts, his status remains murky—and with a track record of injury interruptions, the pressure is mounting.
Los Angeles Dodgers Await Blake Snell’s Comeback as Rotation Faces Injury Crunch
Adding to the Dodgers’ woes, prized rookie Roki Sasaki is also shelved with shoulder tightness. While he will avoid surgery, Roberts confirmed there are “no plans” for Sasaki to throw anytime soon. Sasaki, who admitted a mechanical drop-off last month, holds a 4.72 ERA—the second worst among Dodgers starters behind Landon Knack.
There is hope on the horizon: Clayton Kershaw is expected to return during the upcoming series against the Angels, following a successful rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He’ll join a rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May, with the Dodgers likely continuing a six-man rotation to accommodate their Japanese aces’ weekly schedule.
Still, with 13 pitchers on the IL—and Shohei Ohtani not pitching in 2025—Snell’s return can’t come soon enough for a team with championship aspirations.