CINCINNATI
Amid various challenges, the Dodgers had been able to rely on the health of their starting rotation. However, that might have changed on Wednesday night.
During a game at Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds, left-handed pitcher Blake Snell exited after just one inning and 19 pitches due to left groin tightness, as reported by the team. He was unexpectedly replaced by reliever Blake Treinen at the start of the second inning.
The cause of the issue and the severity of the injury were not immediately clear. Yet, a source familiar with the situation characterized Snell’s exit as “precautionary,” which offered a glimmer of hope that he might not be facing anything too serious.
This development is a significant concern for the Dodgers, who have been banking on a strong starting rotation to support their aim for a World Series three-peat. This rotation is led by Snell, Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow.
Recently, Snell had been performing remarkably well, allowing just four runs over six starts since undergoing surgery in May to remove loose bodies from his elbow.
Interestingly, Snell was pitching on just four days’ rest for the first time this season.
Injury problems have been a recurring theme for Snell since he joined the Dodgers on a substantial five-year, $182 million contract two offseasons ago. He faced a shoulder injury that sidelined him for much of the previous year, although he was able to contribute in the playoffs, delivering six outings with a 3.18 ERA that helped the team secure the World Series title.
This year, he dealt with shoulder issues at the beginning, followed by his elbow problems that arose after his first start back in early May.
Snell has a history with left groin injuries. He missed over a month in 2024 after straining his groin while playing for the San Francisco Giants, and he was unavailable for the final three weeks of the 2021 season due to an adductor groin strain with the San Diego Padres.
If he has a similar recovery timeline this time around, it could endanger his participation at the beginning of the playoffs.
In short, the injury situation for the Dodgers has taken a turn for the worse.
