Dodgers’ Dave Roberts gives concerning injury update on Blake Snell’s Opening Day chances originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have won two consecutive World Series titles and enter 2026 as favorites to win again. Their lineup is simply unfair compared to others around the league. Yet when it comes time to perform in the Fall Classic, the team’s hitting production has sometimes dipped.

“The Dodgers batted .203 in the World Series, the worst mark by a champion since 1966. Over the last 2 seasons, they have batted a combined .204 in the World Series and won both years,” ESPN’s Jesse Rogers wrote.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Dodgers are focused on Opening Day. Several players will be participating in the World Baseball Classic, aiming to bring championships to their respective countries. One key goal for the Dodgers was to have Blake Snell ready for Opening Day.

“The goal is to be ready for Opening Day,” Snell said at DodgerFest. “But I’m going to take my time. I’ll know more once I’m there (Spring Training), throwing bullpens, pitching in games. I’ll have an idea, but yeah, Opening Day is the goal.”

Opening Day is now less than a month away, and updates on Snell have emerged. On Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided a highly anticipated update on the southpaw, and it appears Snell may not be ready to start.

“Dave Roberts said Blake Snell has been making progress in his throwing progression (which, for now, has still been limited to flat-ground sessions). But he acknowledged that, given the calendar, it’s gonna be ‘hard’ for him to be ready for Opening Day,” Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris wrote.

The good news for Los Angeles is that the team has plenty of options for Opening Day. The bad news is that Snell’s recovery appears to be progressing slower than initially expected.

For the Dodgers, the priority is ensuring their pitchers return fully healthy. With the team’s depth, both coaches and players have the flexibility to take their time in returning to peak form.

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