Things are trending up for injured Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Blake Treinen and Blake Snell, as they both started respective rehab assignments.
Snell began his with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, facing off against the Inland Empire 66ers, the affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels.
The outing marked Snell’s first time in a professional game since going four innings against the Atlanta Braves on April 2.
Four days after that start, Snell was placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers then transferred Snell to the 60-day Il on May 17.
The left-hander has been using all his pitches while facing hitters in simulated games and during bullpen sessions, which was the final step before his rehab assignment.
Snell threw two scoreless innings in his outing for the Quakes, allowing just one hit while striking out four and walking none. He threw 31 pitches, 23 of which were strikes.
Snell started the game by striking out Johan Macias and then getting the next two hitters to ground out. In the second inning, the 32-year-old needed to retire four hitters due to a dropped third strike.
He started the second by getting a fly out before striking out the next two batters, the second of which reached on a throwing error by catcher Victor Rodrigues.
Alberto Ríos followed with a single to put two runners on, and a wild pitch advanced both of them into scoring position. But Snell was able to get out of the inning by striking out Kevin Bruggeman.
When is Blake Snell returning to Dodgers?
Snell should make another rehab start in the next week or so, and at that point, he will likely go three innings. His rehab could stay with the Quakes, or Snell may join the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
However that unfolds, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously said the expectation was Snell would return sometime after the All-Star break, and possibly before the end of July.
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