Dodgers’ Blake Snell Unlikely to Make Opening Day After Shoulder Injury

The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a challenging start to the season, as they do not anticipate having two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell available for Opening Day. Snell is currently rehabilitating from a shoulder injury that has persisted since last season, raising concerns about his readiness for the upcoming games.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared updates on Snell’s recovery during a press conference, revealing that the left-handed pitcher has been throwing on flat ground but has yet to take the mound. “He is making progress,” Roberts noted, giving a glimmer of hope to fans eager to see Snell back in action.

Last season, Snell’s appearances were limited to just 11 games, where he posted a 5-4 record and an impressive 2.35 ERA. His contributions were pivotal in the postseason as well, where he went 3-2 across six starts, playing a key role in helping the Dodgers secure their second consecutive World Series title.

In other spring training news, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound against the San Francisco Giants, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five batters over three innings. Yamamoto is set to represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic alongside his Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani, further highlighting the international talent within the team.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.