Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell exited his start against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday after just one inning. The Dodgers diagnosed Snell's injury as "groin tightness" after his exit. Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, spent most of the season on the injured list with various issues, but has been one of the Dodgers' best pitchers over his last seven starts.
Through 34.2 innings pitched since his return from the injured list in August heading into Wednesday's start, Snell had a 1.04 ERA with 46 strikeouts and is yet to earn a loss. He began the year on the injured list with fatigue in his throwing shoulder, and missed the first month and a half of the season while nursing the injury. He returned May 9 and allowed five runs in a start before promptly returning to the injured list with loose bodies in his elbow.
The Dodgers expedited his recovery with the revolutionary "NanoNeedle" procedure, speeding up his recovery by several months so he could make a return in August. On the year, Snell has a 1.86 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched. If Snell misses time, the Dodgers have quite the decision to make ahead of the postseason.
Their postseason rotation looked all but set with Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Skubal all healthy, but they may face some issues without the left-hander. Roki Sasaki is still on the injured list after a blister on his middle finger sent him to the sidelines, Shohei Ohtani is unlikely to pitch again this season after a series of injuries kept him off the mound for the second half of the season and midseason pickup Eric Lauer is currently on the 60-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Of those three pitchers, Sasaki is the most likely player to make his way to the rotation, as his injury is minor and he performed extremely well in his starting role after the midseason classic.
The Dodgers also have deadline acquisition Kris Bubic in the bullpen after reinstating him Wednesday, but the odds of him being ready to manage long outings come the postseason aren't favorable. LA will hope Snell's injury isn't serious as they look to win their third consecutive World Series title this season.
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