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

Six days after making his season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow on Tuesday, per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

"It's going to be to take out those loose bodies, and it's supposed to be a lot quicker recovery, so we're encouraged about that," manager Dave Roberts told reporters Saturday.

The Dodgers placed Snell, who was scheduled to start against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, on the 15-day IL due to loose bodies in his left elbow.

Snell began the season on the IL due to left shoulder fatigue. He made his first start against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with five strikeouts in three innings.

Loose bodies in the elbow for pitchers has become a prominent storyline throughout MLB to start the season. Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz and Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal are two of the most prominent pitchers who have had surgery for the issue.

Díaz is expected to have an extended absence after having surgery on April 22, but he does anticipate returning at some point before the end of the regular season. The Dodgers are hopeful to get him back in July or August.

Skubal's surgery didn't sound nearly as invasive as Díaz's, leading to some hope within the Tigers organization that he can return to game action within a month.

Snell's IL stint was backdated to May 12, meaning the earliest he could return is May 27. However, with the pitcher set to undergo surgery, it's likely he'll be sidelined longer.

Snell landing on the IL is another blow to Los Angeles' pitching staff. The rotation is already without Tyler Glasnow, who went on the IL on May 8 due to back spasms.

The Dodgers are getting by on the mound thanks in large part to the efforts of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani leads MLB with a 0.82 ERA in seven starts.

Yamamoto has cooled down after a hot start, but he leads the team with 50.0 innings pitched and a respectable 3.60 ERA. Justin Wrobleski has also provided a boost to the rotation with a 2.42 ERA in 44.2 innings.

Snell signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers in November 2024. He was limited to just 11 starts in the regular season due to shoulder inflammation, but was terrific with a 3.18 ERA in six playoff appearances to help the team win its second straight World Series.

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