Dodgers activate Blake Snell as rotation gets healthy — but first start goes a bit sideways

Blake Snell is back.

The Dodgers activated the star left-hander on Saturday after he missed four months with a left shoulder injury. 

Snell took the mound against the Rays, his former team, on Saturday.

He tossed five innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs, including two long balls off the bat of Yandy Diaz, although he struck out eight without a walk.

Blake Snell delivers a pitch against the Rays on Saturday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The southpaw’s tenure in Los Angeles has gotten off to a rocky start after he signed a five-year, $182 million free agent deal over the winter. 

Before Saturday, Snell made just two starts with the Dodgers before going down in early April, posting a 2.00 ERA over nine innings. 

The two-time Cy Young winner is re-joining an injury depleted Dodgers pitching staff. 

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) on the bench against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Truist Park. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

They are currently without starters Roki Sasaki and Tony Gonsolin and others like Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow have missed time. 

Shohei Ohtani, who left his most recent outing with cramps, has thrown just 15 innings this year as he eases back from elbow surgery.

The Dodgers were sitting at 64-46 heading into Saturday’s play, three games up on the Padres in the National League West.