Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Blake Snell’s availability for Opening Day is in jeopardy.
Snell, 33, slow-played his offseason throwing program after he and the organization mutually agreed it was best following an arduous World Series.
“I was happy I was able to pitch the whole time,” Snell told The California Post during a Dodgers charity event at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. “But it was tough.”
The Dodgers star revealed his arm was exhausted and fatigued following the Fall Classic, which featured Snell making a key relief appearance in Game 7.
“You want to ramp up, but I gotta take my time and get healthy,” Snell said.
“I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel good. I’ve been throwing. It feels better. 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%.”
Oct 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) walks back to the dugout following the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during game one of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesBlake Snell 2025 Stats With Dodgers
Snell sported a 2.35 ERA with 72 strikeouts across 61.1 innings pitched in his inaugural season with the Dodgers. Last winter, L.A. headlined their offseason by signing the two-time Cy Young winner to a five-year, $182 million deal.
Snell missed a portion of the season with a shoulder injury that landed him on the injured list after just two starts. He returned ready to help the Dodgers in their quest of back-to-back World Series titles.
Dodgers to Manage Starting Rotation’s Workload in 2026
Snell is a prime example of the Dodgers erring on the side of caution heading into 2026. The left-hander is hopeful to be ready for Opening Day, but Jack Harris of The California Post reports “that is not seen as a certainty within the organization.”
Beyond Snell, most of the other staples in the Dodgers rotation will also be managed with their workload. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is perhaps the most intriguing as the World Series MVP was not only a workhorse in the playoffs, but also throughout the regular season.
The right-hander led the team in innings pitched last year, logging 210 combined innings between the regular season and postseason.
In March, Yamamoto is set to pitch for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. His participation in the tournament also leaves some doubt for his availability come Opening Day.
Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow’s workload will also need to be managed in 2026. Ohtani will kick off his first full two-way season in a Dodgers uniform and is expected to require extra days off in between starts.
As for Glasnow, the right-hander’s injury history requires a balance for his starts during the regular season.
LA Baseball Report
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