The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a big setback! Although they tackle every problem perfectly, there has been a major gap in their roster. The reason? Their star pitcher is currently sidelined, having been put on the injured list right after two starts. Blake Snell was placed on a 15-day IL as he struggled with an inflammation on his left shoulder on Sunday. Now, the five-year contract, merged with this injury, casts a shadow of doubt.

The Dodgers’ Manager, Dave Roberts, has to make tough decisions going forward. Roberts is unsure of Blake Snell’s full recovery, and things don’t look favorable, too. 

When asked about Blake Snell’s injury during the post-match conference on April 7, Dave Roberts gave an unconventional update on the $182 million star. He said, “What happened, um, he started his bullpen and experienced some soreness, um, and so we’re going to evaluate him and see how it looks for Tuesday, but it doesn’t look promising.” Roberts’ grim update on Blake Snell tells it all. Blake Snell’s discomfort started on the mound, giving a major blow for the Dodgers, right?

Absolutely! The Cy Young Award winner went 1-0, with an ERA of 2.00, 2 G, and 9.0 IP, along with four strikeouts and a 2.00 WHIP. He allowed only two runs while walking eight until he left the ground owing to the shoulder inflammation.

Blake Snell even had a great 2024 season, where he went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA, 20 G, 104.0 IP, 145 strikeouts, and a 1.05 WHIP.

However, we cannot forget that Snell made only 20 starts the previous season with the San Francisco Giants. The reason was, again, injury to his groin and adductor illness. So, yeah, Blake Snell is often vulnerable to injuries, prompting questions about whether it was right for LA to sign him.

But amidst all these, the Los Angeles Dodgers have brought in a right-handed pitcher to replace Snell. Do you think that will be effective?

Dodgers find immediate replacement for their $182M pitcher

Right after Blake Snell got sidelined, the Dodgers didn’t waste any time calling for a replacement. They brought Matt Sauer right before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sauer, being a familiar name in the minors, has been called from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 26-year-old made a three-inning start for them and was a debutant for the Royals in 2024 with a 7.71 ERA. Although Sauer isn’t the top choice to fill the gap, he was a part of the Dodgers’ Tokyo Series campaign. And that’s the reason behind calling him for the game. 

But it is also important for Matt Sauer to take some added responsibilities in the hour of need. While he is much less experienced than Blake Snell, the Dodgers have put faith in him. Calling him from the minors indicates the depth he has, which is crucial for tackling challenges that occur all of a sudden.

Dave Roberts has also backed Sauer, giving him a chance to change the dynamics of the game and leave a lasting impression.

Sauer has made nine strikeouts in the minor leagues, at 16.1 IP and 2.082 WHIP, and he would like to embed his name in the roster permanently going forward. However, if not Sauer, the Dodgers could also include Jack Dreyer, who pitched 2 1/3 innings and made seven outs since 2023 with the High-A Great Lakes.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have most of the things sorted out even in critical situations. This time, too, Matt Sauer might be the answer. What do you think?