Blake Snell Shines in Return to Dodgers

Recently, Dave Roberts expressed that Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell seemed like a man “on a mission.” It turns out, he might have underestimated that mission.

On Tuesday, Snell made his comeback from a long-term injury and quickly demonstrated his talent with an impressive six-inning performance against the Kansas City Royals, allowing only one run. This strong start could set the stage for a successful end to his season.

The left-handed pitcher was nearly unhittable at the start, striking out seven of the first ten batters he faced. While he did give up a run in the fourth inning—thanks to a broken-bat single and some well-executed plays by the Royals—he managed to leave some runners stranded on base.

He wrapped up his inning work with a solid outing, finishing with three hits allowed, one walk, and ten strikeouts, despite throwing just 84 pitches. This performance served as a reminder of why he’s a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

“Talking to Blake lately, he seems to feel better than he has in quite some time,” Roberts mentioned before the game. “He’s looking a bit intimidating.” However, staying injury-free has been a challenge for the 33-year-old since signing with the Dodgers on a $182 million contract two offseasons ago.

During his first spring with the team, Snell faced a shoulder injury that affected his entire 2025 season, where he only started 11 games. Although he returned for the playoffs and performed well, lingering shoulder issues delayed his season debut until May 9 this year.

His troubles didn’t end there. After a rough start against the Atlanta Braves, he experienced arm pain and discovered he had a loose body in his elbow, which led to surgery on May 19. This extended his recovery process.

This time around, though, Snell returned feeling healthy and revitalized. He reported that his surgery relieved not just his elbow discomfort but also persistent shoulder pain and finger numbness.

During recovery, he felt he was in the best shape he’d been in years and was eager to step back onto the field. In his matchup against the Royals, he executed a remarkable 13-pitch strikeout in the first inning, quickly regaining command of his fastball.

Using an array of pitches effectively, Snell kept batters guessing. He mixed in a changeup, a fastball clocked at 98 mph, and a curveball that had one batter swinging wildly.

Despite allowing three hits, none came from particularly strong contact. One hit, a double by Tyler Tolbert, was the result of an error. Throughout the game, he faced several tough situations but managed to navigate them skillfully.

Overall, it was a masterful performance. While it took time to get here, this outing might indicate that Snell could be on the brink of a dominant season.