Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell will reportedly make his season debut Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, according to the California Post.
Saturday also happens to be “Blake Snell Bobblehead Day.”
It will be an exchange of former Tampa Bay Rays stars in the Dodgers rotation, though, as the Dodgers announced later Friday that Tyler Glasnow was being placed on the injured list with low back spasms.
Snell last pitched in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. He began the season on the IL due to discomfort in his throwing shoulder, an issue that saw him miss four months of action last season.
The 33-year-old has made three rehab starts as he built up in preparation for his MLB return, throwing a total of four innings and striking out 10. The Dodgers were fine with him being patient in getting back to 100% after signing him to a five-year, $182 million deal ahead of the 2025 season.
Glasnow is hitting the IL after exiting one inning into Wednesday’s start against the Houston Astros. He warmed up for the second inning, but then called in the trainer and left the game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters an injured list stint was unlikely after the game, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. He again said the team wasn’t considering an IL stint after an MRI on Friday, but something apparently changed.
Right-handed reliever Paul Gervase was called up to replace Glasnow on the roster. The IL placement also saves the Dodgers from having to figure out who to bump out of the rotation for Snell.
In 11 regular-season starts last year, Snell went 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. He made six postseason appearances and recorded 41 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 34 innings.
