It has started to feel like every time the Los Angeles Dodgers exhale, another injury punches the air right out of them. And this time, it’s about their $182 million ace. As it turns out, the two-time Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, is now placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers already had a fragile rotation, and with Snell’s exit, it has shaken things up more than you could imagine.

The criticality of shoulder inflammation can differ greatly in pitchers like Snell. Typically, the recovery period ranges from 2 to 4 weeks with required rest and rehab. But if there are any underlying issues, such as rotator cuff strain, then it could push back his return.

Snell was signed by the Dodgers for a 5-year, $182 million contract in December 2024. The one who was supposed to be the anchor of their pitching staff has now joined the growing list of their injured stars. Amidst Snell’s setback, the first name the Dodgers could recall was Matt Sauer from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill in Snell’s shoes.

The timing couldn’t be any worse. We’re now in the make-or-break stretch of the regular season, and Snell’s absence is equivalent to the Dodgers being tested on every front. Not to mention, it hasn’t been long since the news of Freddie Freeman landing on the injured list was announced. As a result, the curiosities around the depth of the Dodgers’ roster are just growing. Will the Dodgers again rely on their young stars again?

We won’t have to wait too long to see how the Dodgers will carry their rotation without Snell.

Dodgers pitching woes deepen as their star pitcher exits on the same day Snell goes on IL

It was surely a rainy yet frustrating afternoon for the Dodgers. Just in the matter of a few hours, things got way too spiraled for the Dodgers, more than they could take. First, they witnessed their $182 million ace landing on a 15-day injured list and if that wasn’t enough to shake the rotation, their most reliable starter, Tyler Glasnow, was pulled after two full innings.

Glasnow’s final line was inclusive of two hits allowed, five walks surrendered, and five earned runs across two innings pitched. He was repeatedly seen wiping his palms and evidently struggling to get a grip on the wet ball. And somewhere, footing was also an issue for him this time.

When the coach, Mark Prior, entered to check on him before being yanked from the game, it seemed as if the discussion of his footing made him upset.

Now, Glasnow will be gearing up for his return to the mound on April 12th at Dodger Stadium against the Chicago Cubs. Till then, his only course of action should be the 3Rs: reset, refocus, and redeem. Let’s be hopeful the forecast doesn’t include rain this time. The pressure to perform well will be inevitable for him.

The only way forward is if he views this as an opportunity to remind everyone why he’s the cornerstone of the Dodgers.