The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation was expected to be one of the main drivers of their success this season after the front office aggressively added Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to the group.
The Dodgers boasted a formidable Opening Day rotation that was only expected to get stronger as the season went on. However, the initial group of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Dustin May didn’t stay together for very long.
Glasnow, Snell were the first to fall, and Sasaki eventually followed suit. All three have spent a large chunk of the season on the injured list.
But now matters are trending upward for the Dodgers with Glasnow returning earlier this month and Snell expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is encouraged to see the rotation taking shape again, via SportsNet LA:
“We feel good. We feel really good. Trying to stabilize some things in the ‘pen, but I think with the starters, getting guys back, with what Tyler has done so far, that’s encouraging.”
Meanwhile, Sasaki is still a ways away from being healthy enough to return from the IL, but the Dodgers are hopeful he can rejoin the team around the end of August.
Even without Sasaki, the additions of Glasnow, Snell and a built up Shohei Ohtani will benefit the team greatly down the stretch of the season.
Dodgers schedule Blake Snell’s first start
Ohtani is starting the final game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, which has Clayton Kershaw lined up to pitch Friday.
That in turn left Saturday and Sunday as the possibilities for Snell to come off the 60-day injured list.
All signs point to Snell’s first start with the Dodgers since April 2 coming Saturday, based on comments from Roberts indicating that Yamamoto’s next start will be in the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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