The Los Angeles Dodgers, of course, wanted everyone to report to Spring Training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, in good shape. One person the organization, including Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, was looking at very closely was starting pitcher Blake Snell.

Snell has been working through left shoulder inflammation issues. He missed four months in the 2025 MLB season because of it. Now, the Dodgers hope that Snell can return to the rotation.

But, will it be some time before he can do so? Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen of MLB.com looked at Snell's situation, but also potential issues around pitcher-designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, too.

"The Dodgers' projected six-man rotation should be a force to be reckoned with, but there are a couple of big questions to open the season: Will Blake Snell be ready in time for Opening Day, and how stretched out will Ohtani be?" Chen wrote.

Chen also pointed out that Snell has been playing catch with other Dodgers players from a distance of about 90 feet. She also added that it would be "very surprising" if Snell would actually be ready to go by Opening Day.

"Justin Wrobleski is a top candidate in his place, with Gavin Stone, River Ryan and Landon Knack also potentially in the mix," Chen wrote.

As for Ohtani, he's going to be spending time playing for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He's primarily going to see action as a hitter, though, in the WBC. Playing in the WBC, though, will pinch his usual ramp-up time for the Dodgers down a bit. 

"Off-days early in the season could allow for the Dodgers to begin the year with a five-man rotation, so they could use someone like Wrobleski in long relief behind Ohtani while keeping him available to start once the schedule calls for a six-man rotation," Chen wrote.

Last season, Snell put together a 5-4 regular-season record with a 2.35 ERA in 11 regular-season starts. Before coming to the Dodgers last season, Snell pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers signed Snell as a free agent back in November 2024.

As for Ohtani, he put together a slash line of .282/,392/.622 in the 2025 regular season for the Dodgers. Last season, in 14 starts, Ohtani went 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA.

Having both Snell and Ohtani able to pitch consistently well for the Dodgers is something that the team really wants to see and needs. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior also will be eyeballing how Snell progresses. He'll also need to make sure that Ohtani ramps up properly after his time in the WBC.

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