No intro today, let’s get right to the injuries:
BLAKE SNELL, SP LAD (inflamed shoulder)
For all the talk about the Dodgers’ inevitability, especially in light of their 8-0 start, the weakness was always the same as last year: durability. The Dodgers managed to overcome it and randomness to win a World Series last year, but twice? The team started the season with a number of injured players, but something of a potential surplus as they came back. However, it was always likely that they’d just hold steady with new injuries unless things changed.
Here’s the first one and it’s big. Blake Snell hits the IL with left shoulder inflammation and is headed for - likely already has - imaging. The question is what’s causing the problem, with the labrum being the biggest concern. Almost anything requiring surgery would functionally put him out for the season, with longer term concerns for structural and muscular issues. Snell was showing some inefficiency and command issues in his first two starts, but that’s not unusual. He’s not a fast starter, but this was a surprise to find significant injury at root.
There’s not a lot known here, even inside, but there’s definitely concern. Most of the scenarios the Dodgers had heading in were rotational. Shohei Ohtani would come back to the rotation, then Clayton Kershaw. Some of the younger guys would cycle out of their Tommy John rehabs and hopefully not have to be rushed to the bigs, again. With a big injury this early, the Dodgers really only have a couple options, with Marc Sauers getting the callup. He’ll stick in the bullpen for now. Justin Wrobleski would seem to line up well, though Landon Knack seemed to have the preference in spring over his fellow Comet.
There’s more Dodger pitcher info behind the paywall, along with when Ronald Acuna might come back, why the Cards are so complicated, what happened to Victor Robles, and more. It’s five bucks. You won’t miss it.