Blake

Snell

It’s the first step in what’s expected to be a lengthy recovery from surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow. He’s not eligible to return from the injured list until after the All-Star break and the Dodgers are cautiously optimistic that he’ll be ready not long after that.

This was done as a procedural move to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster for the return of Santiago Espinal on Friday. Snell underwent the NanoScope surgery in mid-May to remove three bone spurs from his pitching elbow. He’s now not eligible to return until after the All-Star break.

Snell underwent the innovative surgical procedure, which is less invasive and uses a smaller incision than a typical arthroscopic surgery, that Tigers ace Tarik Skubal also underwent earlier this month. The hope is that it’ll expedite his return to Los Angeles’ rotation. The 33-year-old southpaw remains without a definitive return timetable yet, but early estimates give him a decent shot at making it back in roughly two months. Fantasy managers shouldn’t anticipate him returning until after the All-Star break in July.

Snell will have the same innovative procedure, which is less invasive and uses a smaller incision than a typical arthroscopic surgery, that Tigers ace Tarik Skubal underwent earlier this month. The hope that the procedure will take a full month off the usual three-month recovery timeline from previous surgeries. There should be a definitive timetable once he starts ramping up his throwing program in a couple weeks.

Roberts was not sure if the operation will be the same that Tarik Skubal underwent, which carries a 4-6 week recovery timeline. If he did undergo that procedure, it would put him out through at least July, with a return after the All-Star break the most likely outcome. River Ryan is expected to take Snell’s place in the rotation in the meantime. When healthy, Snell is one of the best in baseball, but it’s yet another season that will be shortened substantially due to injury.

Nothing official from the Dodgers after Snell landed on the injured list prior to Friday’s scheduled start against the Angels with an elbow injury. The 33-year-old southpaw spent the first seven weeks of the season working his way back from offseason shoulder issues. It’s worth noting that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism that Snell would pitch again this season, but that’s hardly a lock. He can be safely dropped in shallow fantasy formats where roster spots are at a premium. It’ll likely be former top pitching prospect River Ryan taking his rotation spot next week.

Ugh. Snell missed the first seven weeks of the season while recovering from shoulder fatigue and then returned to make just one poor start before being shelved again. Charlie Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday to take his place on the active roster. No word yet on how long Snell is expected to be sidelined before, but traditionally loose bodies in the elbow take 2-3 months of recovery time if they are surgically removed.

No word yet on the reason for the late scratch, but the Dodgers now plan to go with Will Klein as an opener in what will be a bullpen game. Snell has made just one start since returning from the injured list, giving up five runs (four earned) over three innings in a loss to the Braves on Saturday. Stay tuned, as the Dodgers should have an update on his status shortly.

Everyone unable to activate Snell for his first start back caught a break tonight. This was actually a pretty promising outing; his velocity was up a tad from last year and he gave up two just hard-hit balls, though the 11 balls in play against him turned into six hits anyway. He’ll probably be much better against the Angels next week.

Brock Stewart went back on the IL with a foot injury as the corresponding move. Snell, who was on the IL with shoulder fatigue, will make his season debut tonight against the Braves. He’s bumping Roki Sasaki, but Sasaki is still going to start Monday against the Giants with Tyler Glasnow landing on the IL.