Blake Snell’s scheduled return could be boost Dodgers desperately need — if it sticks

It could be an important week for the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation, considering Blake Snell is set to make his return from elbow surgery on Tuesday night. Of course, this isn't the first time this season that the Dodgers had high hopes for Snell's return.

Snell opened the 2026 season with shoulder fatigue, delaying his first start of the year until May. It was the type of debut you would expected from a pitcher who was sidelined for several weeks, giving up five runs on six hits while striking out five.

Unfortunately, Snell immediately returned to the IL after doctors identified loose bodies in his elbow. He's now set to make his return, and, on paper, it couldn't come at a better time.

LA is fresh off their longest losing streak of the season and Shohei Ohtani is just now starting to resume his throwing program. Justin Wrobleski has also hit a clear rough stretch in his All-Star campaign. Over his last three starts, Wrobleski has been tagged for 16 runs on 20 hits and six walked in tick under 14 innings pitched. Making things worse, he's given up nine home runs during that timespan.

In other words, now is the perfect time for Snell to make his return to the rotation. The problem with that hope is that it's almost always followed up with another injury.

Blake Snell set for his Dodgers' return, but the biggest question is what happens next

When Snell made 11 starts for the Dodgers last year, no one really batted an eye. The impression was that if Snell was ready to go in October, it wouldn't exactly matter what his regular season looked liked. It worked as Snell was excellent during the postseason for the Dodgers.

But that reality ignored the problem that has suffocated Snell over the past three years. Snell has only made 32 starts since the start of the 2024 season. In fact, he's only eclipsed 130 innings pitched in a season twice throughout his career. If Snell is healthy, there's almost never a reason to question the pitcher he is. The problem is Snell being healthy is starting to be viewed as a rarity.

Nonetheless, the Dodgers need his return to be real this time around. The Dodgers aren't exactly leaking oil but there's enough question marks present to wonder if things could quickly become undone in October. One way to avoid that fate would be having a healthy Snell and that starts on Tuesday night.

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