1 hour ago
2
Blake Snell may have done enough to show the Dodgers that he is ready to return from injury.
The veteran left-hander overwhelmed Single-A hitters during his latest rehabilitation start Wednesday, throwing four scoreless innings for the Ontario Tower Buzzers while allowing one hit and striking out nine.
Snell threw 45 of his 60 pitches for strikes and consistently reached 95 to 96 mph with his fastball. After giving up a one-out single in the opening inning, he retired the final 11 batters he faced, including three consecutive strikeouts in the second.
The performance matched the workload the Dodgers had established for him almost perfectly.
Manager Dave Roberts said the goal was for Snell to complete four innings and throw about 60 pitches. Ontario manager John Shoemaker said the organization had targeted between 60 and 65 pitches, with Snell’s efficiency determining how deep he worked.
Snell could hardly have been more efficient.
The outing may have been his final test before returning to the Dodgers’ rotation, although Los Angeles has not announced its next step.
The biggest remaining unknown — and the most important one — is how Snell’s body responds after the outing.
The outing couldn’t have come at a better time, with the Dodgers in an immediate need of another starter.
Shohei Ohtani is unavailable as a pitching option because of right biceps and left knee injuries, while Tyler Glasnow remains sidelined by lower-back spasms. LA currently lacks the six healthy starters needed to operate its preferred rotation structure.
That could increase the temptation to bring Snell back sooner rather than later.
The 33-year-old has made only one major league start this season. He opened the year on the injured list because of shoulder fatigue before returning against the Braves in May. Loose bodies were later discovered in his left elbow, sending him back to the injured list after that brief appearance.
Snell underwent a minimally invasive procedure to remove the loose bodies and has followed another gradual throwing program since then. The Dodgers have handled his rehabilitation cautiously, prioritizing his availability for the stretch run and postseason over rushing him back during the summer.
Wednesday’s outing offered their strongest evidence yet that the patient approach has worked.
Facing low-level minor league competition is significantly different from navigating a major league lineup, but Snell accomplished everything the Dodgers could reasonably have wanted.
Another rehab start remains possible. After such a dominant performance, however, Snell may soon receive a much more difficult assignment with the Dodgers.
English (US)