Clayton Kershaw will no longer be suiting up for the Los Angeles Dodgers following his retirement last season, but the team will still have an excellent starting rotation in 2026.
Among the Dodgers’ frontline starters is Blake Snell, who will be in his second season with the organization. The left-hander only made 11 starts in 2025 but made the most of them with a 2.35 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 61.1 innings.
He further showcased his impact in the postseason, with dominant performances through the first three rounds. Snell allowed just two runs in 21 innings of work before running into an unfavorable matchup against a Toronto Blue Jays offense firing on all cylinders. In total, Snell had a 3.18 ERA in 34 postseason innings.
Even without Kershaw, the Dodgers’ rotation is in good hands. The future Hall of Famer had high praise for Snell’s ability on the mound, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com:
“As a left-handed pitcher, you always look around the league and see left-handed pitchers that you like watching,” Clayton Kershaw said. “Blake’s definitely my favorite in the league right now. The way he can throw a baseball is special. It’s just pretty, the way it comes out of his hand.”
The biggest challenge for Snell in 2026 will be staying healthy, as he has made just 31 regular season starts over the past two seasons. Left shoulder inflammation was the cause of his health issues in 2025, and lower body injuries gave him trouble in 2024.
While it is not the ideal outcome, the Dodgers are well positioned to absorb any potential losses in 2026 thanks to their organizational depth. And while the front office wouldn’t necessarily admit it, a lighter regular season workload for Snell is not something they are against because it would keep him fresh and allow the team to unleash him on opponents in the postseason.
Dodgers potentially gained team option year on Blake Snell’s contract
The Dodgers signed Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract last offseason, but the 119 days he spent on the injured list could potentially lengthen his stay with the Dodgers.
L.A. would pick up a $10 million club option for 2030 on Snell should he miss at least 90 days because of a specific injury and isn’t traded.
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