Tyler Glasnow progressing faster than Blake Snell is concerning update for Dodgers

Everyone knew that Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow coming off the 15-day IL as soon as they were eligible was a pipe dream, but over a month out from Snell's landing on the IL and two weeks from Glasnow's, the lack of clarity on their returns has been nothing short of frustrating.

Both are dealing with shoulder inflammation — a difficult injury to come back from that is often just a symptom of something worse — and it hasn't helped that Dave Roberts has been rather vague about their actual statuses. There were times, during their first weeks on the IL, when the Dodgers just didn't seem to know what was wrong. MRIs came back clean, but they were still in pain; sometimes Roberts would provide a slightly promising update only for one or both of them to be shut down the next day.

Glasnow is now taking a real step toward recovery. He started playing catch this weekend, and Roberts said he's not feeling pain in his shoulder. However, Snell isn't quite there yet. Despite expectations that he would also start playing catch over the weekend, he's still in some amount of discomfort and is still completely shut down.

Tyler Glasnow takes first step toward return from Dodgers' IL, but Blake Snell is still in limbo

Snell underwent an MRI that showed no signs of structural damage, but received a painkilling injection in his shoulder a few weeks ago. His progress has stopped and started a few times already; he was shut down during his first week on the IL, started playing catch afterwards, then progressed to a bullpen, but his second scheduled for April 23 was scratched when he reported more pain.

He traveled with the Dodgers since then and was expected to pick up a ball again at some point during the long road trip, but still has yet to do so.

The Dodgers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They're exercising caution with him because they can't afford to risk losing him for even longer, but the rotation is hurting badly. Glasnow's progress is encouraging, and Clayton Kershaw will be back in the majors quite literally any day now, but the Dodgers not really knowing what exactly is wrong with Snell is a bad sign.