LA Dodgers' Blake Snell (34) may not be able to get ready in time for the season opener due to injury.
MLB.com, the official site of Major League Baseball, reported on the 1st (Korea time), "There is a physical cost to the glory of winning the last game of the major leagues. The Dodgers, seeking a third consecutive World Series title, are now focusing on managing players so they can maintain peak condition during the most important period while preparing for the season (postseason)," reporting Snell's injury news.
Snell is a veteran left-handed ace with 222 major league games (1,158 innings), 81 wins, 62 losses and a 3.15 earned run average. He is often injured, but when he can reach the required innings he has shown the kind of performance that could contend for the Cy Young Award. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018 and the National League Cy Young Award in 2023.
Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers last season (about 264.3 billion won), missed many games due to injury. He only managed 11 regular-season starts (61 1/3 innings) with a 5-4 record and a 2.35 ERA, but in the postseason he performed well with six appearances (34 innings), a 3-2 record and a 3.18 ERA.
Still not fully recovered from last season's injury, Snell may not be ready for the season opener. MLB.com explained, "Snell was out of action for four months last season because of shoulder inflammation. He still had shoulder discomfort in the offseason, so he has intentionally delayed his throwing program. Snell hopes to be in the opening-day rotation, but he acknowledged that his timetable could be pushed back because he is preparing for the season slowly."
Snell said, "I'm doing catch work and throwing. It feels good," and added, "But I'm just going to go at my pace. Last year I rushed. I wanted to throw too much. But this time I'll take my time. The goal is to be ready for the opener, but I'll go at my pace. We'll know once I do bullpen pitching in spring training and throw in game situations."
The Dodgers have rich starting pitching resources, including Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Emmett Sheehan and Roki Sasaki. Last season, most of the key starters were injured and Yamamoto was the only pitcher to reach the required innings, but that did not prevent them from winning the World Series.
MLB.com said, "Losing an 'ace-level' starter like Snell early in the season is a big burden for most teams, but the Dodgers are built to withstand injuries to their pitching staff. The Dodgers would rather Snell throw valuable innings in October than push himself to throw in March. That is a lesson learned from winning consecutive World Series titles," emphasizing the Dodgers' strong starting rotation.
Snell said, "Last year there was so much I had to prove. I was too excited and really pushed myself too hard. This year I'm trying to prepare more slowly and more smartly while bringing my condition up."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "I'm not sure how ready Blake is right now," but added, "It's not something to be overly worried about. The important thing is that these players are ready when the season starts and while they go through the season," expressing confidence in Snell and the other starting pitchers.
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