Just like last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ pitching is being ravaged by injuries. They currently have 11 pitchers on the IL with a range of different injuries. Things appear to be getting worse, as it was revealed that Blake Snell will have to be placed on the IL due to loose bodies in his pitching elbow. If this injury seems familiar, it’s the same injury that Tarik Skubal was diagnosed with. He will have the same nanoscope surgery that Skubal had and will be out for the foreseeable future.
This is not the first time that Snell has been on the injured list this season. He missed time early this season due to shoulder fatigue. He did not make his first start for the Dodgers until May 8th. Things did not go well at the start as he gave up six hits and five runs over three innings. All of this should have Dodgers fans very concerned about what Snell can do for them this season. Is it safe to assume that Snell is going to give the team nothing this season?
Can the Dodgers Rely on Blake Snell At All This Season?
While the timeline for Snell seems long, it may not be as long as previously thought. Skubal had the surgery and, less than a week later, was playing catch. Manager Dave Roberts also said that this type of surgery has a much quicker recovery time, so the team is optimistic that he can pitch again this season. While the Dodgers did not have a timetable for his recovery, the expectation is that it will be sometime in July. This is the best-case scenario, but many think he will be back for the final push.
At this point, the Dodgers view him as a “trade deadline” acquisition. Getting a big-time pitcher like Snell after the All-Star break is basically the same as trading for one. If the Dodgers can figure out a way to tread water and get to late July, then their pitching should be back to full strength. They will be able to have the star rotation they expected to have at the start of the season. With them basically having no innings on their arms, they will be next to unstoppable during the pennant chase.
All of this hinges on Snell not suffering any setbacks. But with his injury track record, this is not something you can assume. He had the same injury back in July of 2019 that cost him nearly a month and a half. He was not able to return until the final few weeks of the season and only pitched 11 1/3 innings, including the playoffs. Plus, he had a shoulder injury in 2025 that cost him some time. With such a long track record of injuries, it would be foolish not to expect setbacks.
Because of this uncertainty, the Dodgers need to find a long-term solution. Someone that they can rely on to take Snell’s spot in the rotation and be able to pitch efficiently for the majority of the season. It appears that Eric Lauer will be the one the Dodgers rely on for now. He was recently DFA by the Toronto Blue Jays before they traded him to the Los Angeles. Through 36 1/3 innings this season, he has a 6.69 ERA with 26 strikeouts, 16 walks, a 1.486 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 66. The hope is that the Dodgers can turn his season around.
The Snell injury is a major blow to the Dodgers rotation. While there is optimism that he can be back quickly, they cannot count on it.
