New Blake Snell Injury Update Reveals Dodgers Star's Return Timeline Amid Elbow Issue

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell is days away from his first MLB action in three months.

Snell is set to come off IL and start Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday (h/t MLB.com's Sonja Chen).

Snell made just one start this season before undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow in May. He has made four rehab starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City while gearing up for a return.

Snell's procedure involved a new technique known as the NanoNeedle Scope procedure, which was expected to result in quicker recovery compared to traditional surgical repair, per Chen.

Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal underwent a procedure using the same method before he was traded from the Detroit Tigers last week, per Chen. He was sidelined for about a month and a half before making his return.

Snell is now set to join Skubal in the Dodgers rotation after four Triple-A appearances, starting with 1.1 innings July 18 and building up to four full innings in his third start July 29.

He was meant to reach five innings in his fourth and minor minor-league start Aug. 4 but was pulled after 3 2/3 frames due to his pitch count, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Skubal is set to make his first home start for the Dodgers against the Royals on Monday, per Roberts, before Snell returns to the mound Tuesday.

Snell's return will take the Dodgers one step closer to having a fully healthy rotation that could potentially help the club snap an ongoing season-worst six-game losing streak.

The next pitcher to make a comeback could be Tyler Glasnow, who was placed on IL on May 8 with lower back spasms but began his Single-A rehab assignment last Tuesday.

It could potentially take two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who has been limited with knee and bicep issues, longer to make his first pitching appearance since July 3. Roberts said earlier this week the club does "not really" have a timeline for Ohtani's return to the mound.