Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell exited early from Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds due to a groin injury that occurred during pregame warmups at Great American Ball Park. Snell reported feeling tightness in his left groin after throwing a slider in the bullpen, which ultimately forced him to leave the game in the second inning of the Dodgers’ 6-2 loss.
Snell pitched a 19-pitch first inning, allowing a single to Sal Stewart but quickly erased the baserunner with a successful pick-off play. Despite beginning the outing with slightly reduced velocity as he tried to avoid stressing his injury, Snell initially intended to pitch at least five innings. However, after consulting with manager Dave Roberts, pitching coach Mark Prior, and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert, all parties agreed that removing him from the game was the best option to preserve his health.
Right-handed reliever Blake Treinen replaced Snell in the second inning. With just 10 regular-season games remaining, the Dodgers have yet to determine when Snell might return to the mound. Snell said the next few days will be critical in assessing his recovery and expressed hope to pitch again within a start or two. “Definitely, I want to try to get one more in the regular season,” he said.
This season marks Snell’s eighth start after a delayed 2026 debut caused by shoulder fatigue and a subsequent stint on the injured list to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. Since returning, Snell has been a key component of the Dodgers’ rotation, posting a 1.86 ERA and limiting opposing teams to one run or fewer in his starts. Roberts acknowledged uncertainty in Snell’s near-term outlook and indicated the team will consider further imaging once they return to Los Angeles.
Snell has a history of groin and adductor injuries, which sidelined him for periods in 2021, 2022, and earlier this season. He noted this latest injury did not feel as severe as those prior strains and emphasized the importance of halting his outing before aggravating the condition.
Following Snell’s departure, the Dodgers relied on six relievers to cover seven innings but allowed six runs and 12 hits, including two home runs. Left-hander Kris Bubic made his Dodgers debut in the eighth inning, delivering a scoreless frame with two strikeouts and his first major league action since mid-May. The loss prevented Los Angeles from clinching the division, with the San Diego Padres securing a win over the Colorado Rockies to keep the race alive.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers plan to send Justin Wrobleski to the mound Wednesday and have optioned right-hander Bobby Miller, recalling Landon Knack to bolster their pitching staff. Snell’s injury adds to the team’s late-season pitching uncertainty, which already includes right-hander Roki Sasaki sidelined by a blister on his right middle finger. Sasaki threw a 48-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday and is expected to return as a starter when fully healed.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow, recently returning from a three-and-a-half-month absence due to back issues, reported feeling good despite a recent rough patch in his last two starts. The Dodgers continue to navigate an evolving pitching situation as the regular season winds down.