Blake Snell is back on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, he returned “just in time.” After months sidelined by injury, Snell looked every bit the Cy Young winner he is, snapping off pitches and racking up strikeouts. His return immediately followed the Dodgers’ first sweep of the month, a tight series against the Kansas City Royals that saw two one-run games and one going to extras.
Dodgers’ Recent Wobbles Get a Big Boost
Even with Snell’s high-impact return, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Dodgers lately. Their second half has been peppered with unusual missteps. We’re talking multiple errors gifting runs to opponents and runners continually stranded on base. Pitching, even with newcomer Tarik Skubal, hasn’t been its sharpest. So when Snell stepped up, it was clear the team needed a spark. His performance was exactly that, hinting that maybe it just takes another elite arm to fire up the rest of the staff.
His fellow pitchers certainly noticed. Skubal, who’s got a magnificent changeup himself, was spotted admiring Snell’s handiwork from the dugout. Tyler Glasnow chatted up his teammate, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was locked in, listening. Eric Lauer also seemed to answer the call, allowing only two runs through seven innings in Wednesday night’s win that sealed the sweep. This team is loaded with talent, no doubt.
Injury Woes vs. Postseason Dreams: A Collection of Aces
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is undeniably one of the best in the majors, but injuries have plagued it. Snell missed months, and Tyler Glasnow is only just getting back after a long absence too. Even Shohei Ohtani is merely starting to throw again. But the real talk is that if these pitchers get healthy, none of those earlier struggles will matter come postseason time. This isn’t just any rotation; it’s an “incredible collection of talent,” featuring “Cy Young winners, MVPs, All-Stars and World Series MVPs who, on any given night, possess the ability to pitch like the best in the world.”
Snell proved his mettle last October, dominating despite a nagging shoulder that didn’t fully heal until late winter. Now, he feels “as good as he has at any point in recent memory.” He told reporters, “I mean I’m not worried when I pitch about other things. I can just pitch and focus on pitching. That’s pretty cool. I like where I’m at.” That’s the luxury of having pitchers so elite they only worry about their mental and physical state. With this rotation and their star supporting cast, the Dodgers have a serious shot at being the first NL team to win three World Championships in a row.
They’ll face a major test starting Thursday, with the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers rolling into town for a four-game series. It’s going to be a real look at what these elite starters can do.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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