Blake Snell’s Opening Day Availability for Dodgers Uncertain

The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up to defend their back-to-back World Series titles starting March 26, but they may have to do so without their ace, Blake Snell. The left-handed pitcher is currently grappling with discomfort in his throwing shoulder, an ailment that sidelined him for four months last season. Snell’s offseason training has been hampered as a result, leaving him behind as the team opened spring camp earlier this month.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided an update on Snell’s status for Opening Day, delivering a sobering assessment. “He’s not on a mound right now. He’s not in games,” Roberts stated. “The odds of him starting the season are probably zero. For him, he needs to do his work to get back on the field.” Roberts emphasized that Snell is unlikely to take the mound soon, outlining a cautious plan that involves building Snell’s throwing distance from 120 feet to 180 feet before progressing to a mound.

“When that is, I don’t see it in the next week for sure,” Roberts added. “So then I think we’ll just kind of see where we go from there.” This slow and steady approach aligns with Snell’s own mindset, as he expressed the importance of taking his time to fully recover. Just two weeks before pitchers and catchers reported, Snell addressed his situation at a Dodgers charity event, sharing his thoughts on the need for patience. “I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel good. I’ve been throwing. It feels better,” he remarked. “In the postseason, I gave everything I had for that. But on the front end of spring, I’ll have to be patient and let my body get to 100%.”

The Dodgers are fully supportive of Snell’s cautious approach, urging the 33-year-old to ensure his arm is ready before returning to the mound for regular-season innings. Snell reflected on the challenges he faced last season, admitting that his shoulder “never felt great” after signing a lucrative five-year, $182 million contract. He acknowledged that in his eagerness to meet expectations, he may have pushed himself too hard, but this season, he is committed to a more measured ramp-up.

In 2025, Snell made 11 regular-season starts, posting a record of 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts over 61.1 innings. His postseason performance was equally impressive, with six appearances that featured 41 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA along with a 1.00 WHIP in 34 innings. The Dodgers do have depth in their pitching rotation, with talents like World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani in the mix. However, Ohtani will also require time to reach 100% after participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, while several younger pitchers—including Roki Sasaki, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, and Gavin Stone—are vying for positions on the staff.

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