🚨 Blake Snell’s Slow Ramp-Up Could Delay Opening Day, Dodgers Prioritize Health and Depth in Rotation 👇

Los Angeles, CA – After facing significant injury struggles in their starting rotation during the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be carrying those same concerns into the 2026 campaign. Veteran pitcher Blake Snell, who was a key addition to the team, is once again in the spotlight due to health concerns. Snell admitted that his slow ramp-up could potentially delay his efforts to be ready for Opening Day.

This news follows a challenging 2025 season for Snell, where he missed four months with left shoulder inflammation. Given his injury history, the Dodgers are expected to be especially cautious in how they handle Snell’s workload, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take their time in getting him fully prepared for the upcoming season.

Blake Snell’s Health: Dodgers to Proceed with Caution

While Snell’s slow ramp-up isn’t necessarily an indication that he won’t be ready for the season opener, the Dodgers are clearly prioritizing his long-term health over any immediate start to the season. Former MLB executive David Samson offered his perspective on the situation, praising the Dodgers’ approach to managing their starting pitchers.

“The Dodgers announcing that Blake Snell is not ready for the start of the season is not because he cannot be ready for the start of the season,” Samson said during the February 2 edition of his show “Nothing Personal with David Samson.” “The reason Blake Snell is not ready for the start of the season is because they are very aware that to keep him healthy late, you got to start him late.”

Samson continued: “Blake Snell came out and said his arm was tired, his arm’s exhausted. He had five postseason starts; he pitched in relief [and] he’s just done… I am not going to impugn the Los Angeles Dodgers front office. I’m going to go the opposite. Congratulations on giving us a roadmap to what is necessary to win through October.”

The Changing Landscape of Pitching: A Shift in Strategy

Samson’s comments reflect a broader trend in MLB where the traditional expectation of pitchers making 30-plus starts per season is becoming less common. The Dodgers, with their strong roster depth, are positioning themselves to take a more strategic approach in how they handle their starting pitchers.

Rather than overburdening their ace with a heavy workload early in the season, the Dodgers are focused on keeping Snell healthy and ready for a deep postseason run. This mindset aligns with the team’s long-term goal of preserving key pitchers through the regular season so they can perform at their best in October. With Snell’s experience and track record, the Dodgers are betting that patience and careful management will pay off when it matters most.

Tommy Edman’s Injury Update: Dodgers Taking a Cautious Approach

In addition to their concerns in the pitching department, the Los Angeles Dodgers are also monitoring the health of Tommy Edman, the versatile infielder and new addition to the team. With spring training approaching, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman provided an update on Edman’s recovery.

“The arrow is pointing up,” Friedman shared during a January 29 appearance on Dodgers Territory. “Just went and got evaluated again for that checkup, and everything is pointed in a good direction. Exactly what that means, we don’t know yet. Until we really start ramping up baseball activity, getting them in spikes, and doing it day after day after day, how the body responds will dictate a lot of it.”

Friedman acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Edman’s readiness for the season but emphasized the team’s cautious approach in ensuring that Edman’s recovery is fully managed. The Dodgers are clearly in no rush to push him back into action until they’re confident he’s fully healthy.

Patience with Edman: Dodgers’ Depth Will Play a Key Role

As with their pitching depth, the Dodgers also have sufficient depth in their infield to be patient with Tommy Edman. With the arrival of Kyle Tucker and the addition of other capable infielders like Alex Freeland, Hyeseong Kim, Andy Ibáñez, and Miguel Rojas, Los Angeles has the luxury of not rushing Edman back into action if he’s not ready.

“We’re not going to be foolish and try to cut corners,” Friedman added. “But that being said, we’re also not going to artificially hold him back. We’ll have a much better feel as we get into February. By late February, we’ll have an idea whether we have the runway to safely build them up and be ready, or if we don’t.”

Dodgers’ 2026 Plans: Balancing Patience with Contention

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a unique position in 2026, where their depth in both pitching and batting allows them to be patient with their players’ health. They have sufficient talent on their roster to contend for a title, but they understand the importance of long-term success over short-term gains.

The Dodgers’ strategy with players like Blake Snell and Tommy Edman reflects a broader trend of teams managing workloads carefully and focusing on ensuring that key players are fully ready for the postseason. With their deep roster, the Dodgers are in a strong position to take this approach, hoping that their patience pays off with another shot at the World Series.