Dodgers are feuding over Blake Snell’s prospects for Opening Day

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have to prepare for starting pitcher Blake Snell missing the start of the season as his preseason progresses slowly.

According to Katie Woo of The AthleticSnell is coming off the flat, but he’s far from ready for a real start with just over a month to go until the season starts.

“Time is ticking, but as I told him the other day, Opening Day is not necessarily a difficult goal for us,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Snell is known for starting slowly, especially given his injury-prone nature, but taking things to the next level in the second half of the season.

Last season, Snell was injured early, struggled with shoulder issues and missed the first half, adding to the team’s depth amid a string of injuries.

Dave Roberts Says Blake Snell Isn’t Ready to Step Up Too Much in Spring Training:

“He plays catch, he throws. Once he comes off the mound, throws a pin, faces hitters, we’ll know more.”

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) February 16, 2026

However, the southpaw was more than ready for the actual start of the postseason stretch, as he was the dominant starter on the front line that the team needed, especially with a weak bullpen.

Blake Snell learned his lesson in 2025

Snell doesn’t seem concerned about his slow start and expresses confidence that he understands his body and is in no rush to return to the mound.

After seemingly rushing back, the Cy Young award winner wants to take it easy.

“I’ve been playing catch and throwing. It feels good,” Snell said at DodgerFest.

“But I’m just going to take my time. Last year I was in a hurry. I wanted to pitch so bad. But I’m going to take my time. The goal is to be ready on Opening Day, but I’m going to take my time. I’ll know more once I’m done.” [at Spring Training]throwing bullpens, pitching in games.

“Last year I had so much to prove. I got way too excited and was really pushing to get to spring, get through spring. This year I’m going to be a little bit slower just in how I ramp it up, be a lot smarter about that.”

The Dodgers, meanwhile, enter the season with as much pitching depth as ever and that will allow Roberts and the organization to give Snell all the space he needs.

“Whatever is best for Blake – or any of our pitchers – we’re going to do,” Roberts said.

“Where he is now, once we get to Spring Training and how his arm feels, there’s a buildup from there. If it doesn’t line up with Opening Day, the first series, then not.”