Jack Harris of the California Post reports this that manager Dave Roberts said pitcher Blake Snell is making slow progress as he appears to be on the rise in spring training. However, Roberts also said it would be difficult for Snell to be ready for Opening Day as he was limited to throwing on flat ground.
The Dodgers had taken into account the workload the rotation handled during the offseason. Harris previously reported that the Dodgers planned to manage their starters’ innings in 2026, with the goal of having their top weapons ready for the long run and into October. Snell, who said his arm was “tired” and “exhausted” to the point that he postponed his offseason throwing program.
Blake Snell can be a weapon for the Dodgers when he is on the mound
Sustainability has been an issue for Snell throughout his career. He has thrown more than 130 innings only twice in his ten years in the Majors. Snell has an extensive injury historywith a strained left shoulder that kept him to 11 starts in 2025.
However, there is no doubt about Snell’s abilities when he is on the mound. He has qualified for the ERA title twice and won the Cy Young award both times. Snell has posted a 3.15 ERA and 1.219 WHiP over 1,158 career innings, striking out 1,440 batters with 521 walks, as his 11.2 K/9 rate is the best in Major League history.
Snell will be a key part of the Dodgers’ rotation as they look to win their third consecutive World Series. The biggest question is whether he can stay on the mound for most of the season.
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