The Los Angeles Dodgers lost a key member from their starting rotation at the beginning of the when Blake Snell was placed on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation.
Snell’s stint on the injured list was backdated to April 3 and the expectation is he will miss at least two starts.
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Snell was in the middle of a bullpen session on Sunday when he experienced soreness in his throwing shoulder. Snell revealed the pain has persisted for three weeks and he attempted to pitch through it, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I’ve been feeling it for like three weeks,” Snell said Monday after going on the injured list a day earlier. “I thought I could pitch through it when I got to Philly. Played long toss, catch, tried to throw – I just couldn’t.
“This sucks. I was hoping I could just get past it and pitch, and it would go away. It’s hurting, so I’ll get healthy and get back out there.”
Snell has since undergone an MRI, which revealed inflammation but no other damage in his shoulder:
Snell said he underwent an MRI on Sunday which revealed inflammation but no structural damage. He said he was in “a good amount” of pain during his two regular-season starts.
“I don’t want to make excuses, but yeah. I was aware of it,” he said.
Snell is in the first season of a five-year, $182.5 million contract he signed with the Dodgers. He dealt with a left adductor strain and strained left groin last year, and left shoulder fatigue led to a stint on the injured list in 2018.
Snell otherwise has not previously dealt with a left shoulder injury.
Snell went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA, 4.72 FIP and 2.00 WHIP through two starts prior to landing on the IL.
Dodgers’ pitching plans without Blake Snell
Snell’s injury has forced the Dodgers to tap into their starting pitching depth for the first time this season.
Justin Wrobleski is expected to start against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday ahead of the Dodgers likely utilizing a bullpen game in the series finale.
Landon Knack appears primed to play a part in Wednesday’s game, whether as a starter or pitching bulk innings.
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