Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Blake Snell has been pulled from his scheduled start on Friday, May 15, against the Los Angeles Angels. In his stead, right-hander Will Klein was designated to initiate a bullpen game. While the team has not yet provided an official explanation for Snell's sudden withdrawal, it is not thought to be linked to the shoulder inflammation that sidelined him for the initial six weeks of the season.
Snell's recent return to the mound for the 2026 season, just six days prior to this unexpected change, saw him deliver a less-than-stellar performance against the Atlanta Braves. In that outing, he conceded four earned runs and six hits over three innings, contributing to a 7-2 loss for the Dodgers. This followed a prolonged absence attributed to shoulder fatigue, a lingering effect from his extensive pitching workload during the 2025 MLB playoffs, where he posted a 3-2 record with a 3.18 ERA over five starts.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner has a well-documented history of physical ailments throughout his career. His past injury list includes shoulder fatigue in 2018, a broken toe from an off-field incident, and arthroscopic elbow surgery in 2019 to address loose bodies. Additionally, a persistent left adductor issue has led to five separate stints on the injured list over four seasons. During his tenure with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, Snell spent the first three months recovering from a groin and adductor strain before delivering a strong performance late in the season. His career has been characterized by a tendency to not exceed 130 innings pitched in a single season, a threshold he has only surpassed twice.
Snell joined the Dodgers last winter, signing a lucrative five-year, $182 million contract. However, his 2025 season was also impacted by a four-month absence due to shoulder inflammation, which occurred after only two starts. Upon his return, he managed to secure a 4-4 record with an impressive 2.41 ERA across nine regular-season starts. The recent decision to scratch him from his start underscores the ongoing concerns surrounding his durability and availability for the Dodgers.
This latest development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Blake Snell in maintaining a consistent presence on the pitcher's mound due to a recurring pattern of injuries. The Dodgers' decision to resort to a bullpen game emphasizes the team's cautious approach to managing their star pitcher's health, particularly given his recent return from shoulder inflammation and his history of various physical setbacks.
