The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering the 2026 MLB season facing questions about their starting rotation after injury setbacks with key pitchers last year. Veteran left-hander Blake Snell has acknowledged that a slow ramp-up could delay his readiness for Opening Day, raising concerns about how Los Angeles will manage its pitching staff.
Snell missed four months last season due to left shoulder inflammation, forcing the Dodgers to carefully manage his workload. The team’s depth gives them flexibility, but fans are eager to see when the veteran will return to the mound.
Former MLB executive David Samson offered insight into the Dodgers’ approach, praising the organization for setting a blueprint for keeping pitchers healthy late into the season. “The Dodgers announcing that Blake Snell [is] not ready for the start of the season is not because Blake Snell cannot be ready for the start of the season,” Samson said on Nothing Personal with David Samson.
He also added, “The reason Blake Snell is not ready for the start of the season is because they are very aware that to keep him healthy late, you got to start him late.”
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (#7) reacts after recording a strikeout. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
How the Dodgers are handling Snell’s recovery
Samson emphasized that Snell’s arm fatigue is understandable given his heavy workload, including postseason appearances and relief innings. “We always had the feeling that we were going to have injuries and that pitchers starting 30 games plus is something in the past, and now we know,” he added. The Dodgers’ cautious approach highlights a growing trend of prioritizing long-term health over early-season availability.
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