Blake Snell Injury Update, Latest Rumors on Dodgers Star's Status and Return Timeline

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell is expected to make his season debut Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, ESPN's Alden Gonzalez and MLB.com's Sonja Chen reported.

Snell, 32, started the 2026 season on the injured list due to left shoulder fatigue.

The news of his expected return comes after Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow exited a Wednesday start against the Houston Astros early due to back spasms.

The Dodgers could decide to skip Glasnow's next turn in the rotation even if he isn't ultimately placed on IL, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.

He appeared in his first game of the season when he pitched one-plus innings with Single-A Ontario on April 23.

Snell has since made two more rehab starts, including another Single-A appearance and a four-inning appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

He threw 55 pitches with 37 strikes across those four Triple-A innings, striking out four batters while allowing two runs, two hits and a walk.

Chen initially reported the Dodgers wanted Snell to reach five innings and 75 pitches in a rehab start before returning to the rotation.

He will now make his comeback earlier than expected into a Dodgers rotation facing questions even outside Glasnow's health status.

Emmet Sheehan has struggled with pitch velocity so far this season, while Roki Sasaki has allowed 33 hits to 26 strikeouts through six starts.

The Dodgers already have Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani joining Glasnow at the top of the rotation.

If Glasnow doesn't go on IL, the Dodgers will have to consider moving Sheehan, Sasaki or Justin Wrobleski out of the rotation in order to create a sixth spot for Snell.

Sasaki was listed as the probable pitcher for Saturday prior to the news of Snell's return, with Wrobleski projected to start Sunday by MLB.com.

The Dodgers are heading into Friday leading the NL West with a 23-14 record, although the San Diego Padres sit just one game back at 22-15.

Snell recorded a 2.35 ERA through 11 regular-season starts and 61.1 innings with the Dodgers last season. Getting him back into the rotation could help the Dodgers give Sheehan time to rest as the club determines how best to handle Sheehan and Sasaki's early-season struggles.