The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back Tyler Glasnow earlier this month and could see the return of Blake Snell to their starting rotation in roughly one week.
But first, Snell is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday in the fourth start of his rehab assignment. He’s due to face the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) at Greater Nevada Field.
Snell began his rehab assignment on July 10 by completing two scoreless innings in a start with Single-A Ranch Cucamonga. It was followed by a start for the Arizona Complex League Dodgers during the All-Star break, and then last week with an outing at the Triple-A level.
In the three rehab starts thus far, Snell has pitched to a 2.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against one walk across nine innings. Including Saturday, each of Snell’s last three starts have come on four days of rest as the Dodgers seemingly mirror his expected schedule upon returning.
Plan for Blake Snell
Snell has been on a progression of stretching out in his starts and next is the hope to reach five innings or 75 pitches.
“And then once we get through that, then there’ll be a real discussion on if he should join us or do another one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Snell has been on the injured list since April 6 (retroactive to April 3) because of left shoulder inflammation. He made just two starts for the Dodgers while initially attempting to pitch through the shoulder trouble. The Dodgers transferred Snell to the 60-day injured list on May 17.
His impending return seemingly is a factor in the Dodgers reportedly being open to a potential Dustin May trade amid their search for a relief pitcher.
With Snell the Dodgers would have a rotation that also includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani and Emmet Sheehan.
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