Los Angeles Dodgers' lefty Blake Snell set to make his season debut on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to activate left-hander Blake Snell from the 15-day Injured List on Saturday, setting the stage for his long-awaited season debut after missing the opening portion of the season with shoulder fatigue.
Snell had been progressing through a minor league rehab assignment and recently completed a four-inning outing as he continued to be built up. Earlier in the week, the Dodgers indicated the veteran would likely make one additional rehab start before returning to the major league rotation.
Instead, the organization has accelerated the timeline and will insert him directly into the big-league staff this Saturday.
The decision marks a notable shift from the club’s previous stance regarding Snell’s workload. Los Angeles had consistently maintained that the two-time Cy Young Award winner would need to stretch out beyond five innings before being activated.
The abrupt change suggests that the Dodgers may be responding to developing concerns within the rotation.
One possible factor is the status of right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who exited his most recent outing after experiencing back spasms. While the Dodgers have not officially announced whether Glasnow will require a stint on the IL, the uncertainty surrounding his availability appears to have influenced the club’s pitching plans.
Even if Glasnow avoids the IL, the Dodgers may simply need another healthy starter capable of handling meaningful innings at the major-league level. Snell, nearing full health, will look to provide stability to a pitching staff that has dealt with multiple injury concerns during the first half of the year.
When healthy, Snell remains one of baseball’s most dominant strikeout pitchers. The Dodgers are hoping his return can help solidify the rotation as they continue navigating a competitive National League race.
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