The Los Angeles Dodgers may need to prepare for starting pitcher Blake Snell to miss the start of the season as his preparation for the season has been slow.
According to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Snell is starting from the flat, but he’s far from ready to actually start with the season still more than a month away.
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“The clock is ticking, but like I told him the other day, Opening Day isn’t necessarily a hard and fast target for us,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Snell is known for getting off to slow starts, especially given his injury-prone nature, but then pushing the game forward in the second half of the season.
February 17, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) and pitcher Blake Snell (7) warm up during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Snell was injured early last season with shoulder discomfort and missed the first half, and the team’s depth was stretched amid a series of injuries.
However, the lefty is more than ready for the actual start of the postseason and is the dominant front-line starter the team needs, especially with a weak bullpen.
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Blake Snell learns his lesson in 2025
Snell seemed unfazed by his slow start and expressed confidence that he knows his body and is in no rush to return to the mound.
The Cy Young Award winner looked like he was rushing back, but he wanted to take his time.
“I’ve been playing catch, throw. It feels good,” Snell said at Dodger Day.
“But I’m going to take my time. Last year, I was in a rush. I wanted to pitch so bad. But I’m going to take my time. The goal is to be ready for Opening Day, but I’m going to take my time. Once I [at Spring Training]throwing bullpens, pitching in games.
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“Last year, I had a lot to prove. I was so excited and worked really hard to get into the spring and get through the spring. This year, I’m going to slow down a little bit on how to improve and be a little smarter about it.”
The Dodgers, meanwhile, enter the season with their usual pitching depth, which will allow Roberts and the team to give Snell all the room he needs.
“Whatever is best for Blake or any of our pitchers, we’re going to do it,” Roberts said.
“Once we get into spring training and see how his arm feels, he’ll get better. If it doesn’t match up to Opening Day of the first series, then it won’t.”
