Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Blake Snell Injury Update: What Happened to Dodgers Ace?

LHP Blake Snell placed on the 15-day injured list!

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching depth is being tested early in the season. On Sunday, the team announced that left-handed ace Blake Snell has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation, retroactive to April 3.

The Dodgers recalled RHP Matt Sauer and placed LHP Blake Snell on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to April 3.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 6, 2025

Blake Snell, who joined the Dodgers this offseason on a five-year, $182 million deal, had a solid start to his tenure in L.A. Through two outings, the two-time Cy Young winner posted a 2.00 ERA over nine innings. But the peripherals told a more complex story: eight walks, just four strikeouts, two wild pitches, and five unearned runs, signs that he hasn’t settled in just yet.

Dodgers pitchers currently on the injured list:

Shohei Ohtani (not on IL but not pitching)
Blake Snell
Clayton Kershaw
Tony Gonsolin
Gavin Stone
Emmet Sheehan
River Ryan
Evan Phillips
Michael Kopech
Brusdar Graterol
Kyle Hurt
Michael Grove
Edgardo Henriquez
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) April 6, 2025

The Dodgers, of course, are no strangers to patching together a rotation. Their 2024 championship run was built on navigating around injuries and leaning on unheralded arms. That resilience will be tested again, especially with several other starters like Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, and Gavin Stone still on the mend.

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Snell has a long history of arm trouble, and shoulder issues aren’t new territory. In 10 MLB seasons, he’s qualified for the ERA title only twice, and durability has always been a concern, even in his most dominant stretches. The Dodgers knew they were signing talent with baggage, but they’re hoping it’s just a short-term pause this time around.

Who Will Replace Blake Snell in the Dodgers Rotation?

In a corresponding move, right-hander Matt Sauer has been called up. With Blake Snell originally scheduled to pitch Tuesday, the Dodgers have a few in-house candidates to consider:

Justin Wrobleski, a 24-year-old lefty, is coming off an impressive outing for Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 1. He threw 5.2 scoreless innings with just three hits allowed. Wrobleski put up a 3.76 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A last season and boasts a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Landon Knack, 27, also in Triple-A, pitched 4.2 innings in relief on April 3, racking up five strikeouts. He’s a more seasoned option and could be a steady short-term plug-in.
Bobby Miller could’ve been a frontrunner, especially after his electric season debut on March 30, but he’s lined up to pitch on Sunday and likely won’t be available for Tuesday’s game.
A bullpen game remains a realistic fallback, especially given the Dodgers’ deep relief corps. Depending on how the next few days shake out, this might be the most convenient path until reinforcements arrive.

ALSO READ: Freddie Freeman Injury Update: Unexpected Bad News for Dodgers Fans

The Dodgers are off to a red-hot 9-2 start, the best by a defending champion in recent history.

Blake Snell

Dodgers

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.