Blake Snell resumed playing catch Friday, an encouraging development after left groin tightness ended Wednesday’s start against the Cincinnati Reds after one inning.

The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to have avoided a serious setback. Snell, who has a long history of adductor and groin strains, believes he caught the latest issue early. The left-hander threw from up to 90 feet Friday.

According to Dodger Blue, manager Dave Roberts said he is hopeful Snell will start again before the regular season ends.

“I’m very hopeful that he’ll make a start before the end of the season,” Roberts said.

Although Snell’s rotation turn aligns with the upcoming series against the San Diego Padres at home, Roberts does not expect him to pitch then.

He identified the final series against the San Francisco Giants on the road as a possibility and said Snell is progressing well.

“I think that I don’t see Snell pitching in this next series against San Diego. There’s a potential that last series in San Francisco,” Roberts explained. “He’s trending very well.”

Roberts previously explained that Snell’s final regular season appearance would resemble a normal start rather than a brief tune-up. The Dodgers might avoid pushing him too far, but they cannot yet know how their postseason schedule will unfold.

“Maybe not pushing him a ton, but given we don’t know how the season is going to play out, this will be his last regular season start. So I think it would be more of a regular start,” Roberts noted.

Los Angeles is still competing for postseason seeding with the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves.

Finishing at least second in the National League would secure a first-round bye and allow the Dodgers to avoid the Wild Card Series. They would then have four days off before opening the National League Division Series on Oct. 2.

That rest would help Snell even if he makes another regular season start. Waiting until the final weekend would also give his groin more time to recover.

With the Padres a possible postseason opponent, keeping him out of their upcoming series could carry a strategic benefit as well.

The Dodgers still need wins, but the health of Snell, Shohei Ohtani and other players matters too. Despite the possibility of additional rest before October, the team does not favor having Snell enter the postseason without pitching again.

Roberts estimated that skipping another start could leave Snell without competition for roughly 17 days. He noted that pitchers returning after such gaps typically have rehabilitation outings rather than going directly into a postseason game.

Snell has shown he can be sharp soon after returning, but the Dodgers still want him to face hitters first.

“There’s a thought, but you’re still talking about a potential 17 days, something like that. That’s a long time to not be in competition,” Roberts concluded.

“Where typically with his history, you still have rehabs and things like that. It’s just not kind of a plug-and-play; sit out for two weeks and pitch in a playoff game.” 

Snell’s experience helps him recognize when something feels wrong with his delivery or body. His decision to stop after one inning against the Reds reflected an understanding of how quickly a groin issue can worsen if he continues to pitch through it.

On the mound, Snell brings the ability to challenge hitters while changing their timing and expectations. His pitch mix gives him ways to adjust when an opponent begins anticipating one part of his approach.

He also understands the patience required between starts. For now, that means building back from catch play, testing how his groin responds and preparing for a competitive outing. His next start would let the Dodgers assess both his health and his readiness.