The Los Angeles Dodgers have prioritized health for October, but that took a potential hit on Wednesday with Blake Snell pitching just one inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Blake Treinen entered in the bottom of the second inning.
Treinen began warming up during the top of the second and Snell was seen heading into the clubhouse with Dodgers head trainer Thomas Albert. The team announced Snell’s early exit was due to left groin tightness.
Snell’s shortened outing came the night before a planned bullpen game in the series finale at Great American Ball Park. He threw just 19 pitches and allowed one hit while collecting one strikeout in the first inning.
Snell’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.5 mph, which was down from his season average of 96 mph. The biggest decline was on the slider, which averaged 86.4 mph but was only thrown once. Snell otherwise is averaging 88.7 mph this year.
The start was just Snell’s eighth of the season. He had a delayed start to 2026 and then went on the injured list after a rough debut against the Atlanta Braves.
That wound up leading to a lengthy stint on the injured list and recovery from surgery to remove loose bodies from Snell’s left elbow.
He returned on Aug. 11 and has been part of the Dodgers’ rotation without any apparent issue. Though, the 33-year-old expressed continued frustration with his command after recent outings.
Blake Snell groin injury history
Should Snell need to go on the 15-day injured list, that will end his regular season. However, like with Edgardo Henriquez, Snell would be eligible to be activated during the postseason.
Snell has a history of adductor/groin strains, dating back to 2021 when he was with the San Diego Padres. He missed the final two weeks of that season because of a left adductor groin strain. It’s not known how long Snell’s absence would’ve lasted due to the Padres missing the playoffs.
Then in April 2022, Snell was out for one month due to the same injury.
In April 2024, he landed on the 15-day IL while with the San Francisco Giants because of another left adductor strain. Snell returned in May, only to be put back on the injured list in June with a left groin strain that caused him to miss just over one month.
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