Blake Snell is no longer scheduled to start Friday night in the opener of the Freeway Series to kick off MLB’s second annual Rivalry Weekend, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.
The Dodgers are scratching Blake Snell ahead of his start against the Angels tonight. They’ll go with a bullpen game instead, likely with Will Klein to start. #Dodgers
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) May 15, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers have not yet provided a reason for Snell getting scratched. Manager Dave Roberts is scheduled to speak with media shortly before 5 p.m.
Blake Snell injured again?
Snell was poised to make just his second start since coming off the 15-day injured list. He only pitched three innings and allowed five runs (four earned) in a loss to the Atlanta Braves. Snell was hurt in part by batted-ball luck that went in the Braves’ favor.
“Learned a lot,” Snell said after the outing. “Obviously frustrated. The goal is to give up no runs, so giving up five is pretty frustrating. But, I mean, I learned a lot.
“I got to use the fastball a little more; the zone is smaller than it was last year, that’s what I learned today. I was just missing a little bit. But I feel really good, the stuff is really good.
“Being able to start to read swings and what people are thinking and doing is getting better. So excited about that. But, yeah, just a lot to break down. But obviously, three (innings) and 77 pitches is not where I want to be. But yeah, just a weird game.”
The start was effectively an extension of Snell’s rehab assignment that wound up ending early in part because of Tyler Glasnow landing on the 15-day injured list. But the left-hander did not use that as reason for some of his struggles upon returning.
“I’m ready to go,” Snell said. “Yeah, there’s no excuse. I feel good. The stuff’s good. So I just got to become a better pitcher and do that quickly. I have a lot of confidence I’ll do that. I really like where I’m at.
“So for me to get called up. I feel really good. I wanted that start, so I need to get better and make sure I can cover the innings and help the bullpen more.”
But now Snell’s status appears to be somewhat in question yet again. He dealt with left shoulder inflammation at the beginning of last season and again during the Dodgers’ World Series run. That caused a delay with Snell’s offseason throwing program and he started this year on the IL due to left shoulder fatigue.
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