Dodgers News: Blake Snell Uncertain for Opening Day After Delayed Ramp-Up
The Dodgers’ ace pitcher is still building strength in spring training, leaving his availability for Opening Day in question.
LOS ANGELES, CA—The price of winning back-to-back World Series titles is the shortness of the back-to-back offseasons, and that is especially greater for the Los Angeles Dodgers after starting consecutive seasons early overseas in Japan and South Korea.
That has now appeared to have taken its toll on the players involved in their recent dynasty run, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who is reportedly slow-playing his build-up this winter to prepare for a healthy 2026 season.
In an interview with Jack Harris of the California Post, Snell said his arm was tired at the end of the season and that he felt the exhaustion of a 162-game regular season despite spending significant time on the 60-day injured list.
“I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel good. I’ve been throwing. It feels better. In the postseason, I gave everything I had for that. But on the front end of spring, I’ll have to be patient and let my body get to 100%.
“That’s what I’m learning talking with (the team). Don’t rush. Be patient. Make sure you’re 100%. And that’s what’s awesome about the organization. They really are focused on your health and well-being.”
As previously stated, Snell spent most of his first year under a 5-year, $182 million deal on the injured list due to a left shoulder problem. He pitched through spring training and the initial two starts of the regular season, but the pain was too much.
The southpaw didn’t return to the mound until August, but he more than made up for the lost time with a dominant run to close the season. He opened the postseason with three sensational starts, earning wins over the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card round, the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, and delivering a near-complete-game shutout in Game 1 of the NLCS against the league-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Even if Snell is set to miss Opening Day, the Dodgers’ starting rotation is considered a significant strength for the club, not just because of the star talent, but also because of the depth the team has at its disposal.
Even after Snell, the Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Emmet Sheehan, along with the return of young right-handers River Ryan and Gavin Stone.
Muncy & Other Position Players Only Recently Began Baseball Activities
Similar to Blake Snell, Dodgers veteran third baseman Max Muncy also stated in an interview with Foul Territory that he and several other Dodgers teammates had recently begun baseball activities due to the shortened offseason.
“Spring Training this year is gonna be more like it was in the old days, where you’re really starting to ramp up instead of showing up to fully ready to go.”
Although a shorter training offseason isn’t ideal, the Dodgers managed it successfully last year and went on to win the World Series.
Los Angeles suffered many injuries initially but improved as the 2025 season went on, reaching its full potential when key players returned in October.
The first spring training game for Los Angeles will take place on February 21st against the Los Angeles Angels, followed by a series of 28 games over 27 days, including one split-squad game on February 28th.
