Why Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell ‘can’t wait’ for Tuesday return at Dodger Stadium

Blake Snell is finally ready to get back to work, and he could not be more excited about it. The two-time Cy Young winner is set to rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium, ending a lengthy stint on the injured list.

Speaking with SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson ahead of the milestone, Snell made his excitement clear.

“I can’t wait for Tuesday. I’m in a really good spot. I love where I’m at. I love what I’m able to do coming back,” Snell said.

"I can't wait for Tuesday. I'm in a really good spot. I love where I'm at. I love what I'm able to do coming back."

Set to make his return from the I.L. (elbow) on Tuesday, Blake Snell talks with @kirsten_watson before the #Dodgers matchup with the D-backs. pic.twitter.com/76xb8V5V16

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 8, 2026

Snell’s path back has been a long one. He opened the season on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation dating back to last year, then returned in May for a single start before landing right back on the IL with loose bodies discovered in his elbow. He underwent a NanoNeedle Scope 2.0 procedure to remove them, the same surgery Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had earlier this year, though Snell’s version required a longer operation given multiple loose bodies were involved.

The lefthander began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 18 and worked through four rehab starts before the Dodgers cleared him to return. His final tune-up came Tuesday, when he allowed three runs on five hits, including two home runs, over 3.2 innings, a rougher outing than his first three rehab starts, in which he posted a sparkling 1.13 ERA.

Manager Dave Roberts said Snell’s elbow checked out fine afterward and confirmed the left-hander was ready to rejoin the big-league rotation.

Snell’s return gives Los Angeles back a pitcher who was instrumental in last year’s World Series run, posting a 3.18 ERA across 34 postseason innings. The 33-year-old signed a five-year, $182 million deal with Los Angeles before the 2025 season, but has made just a handful of regular-season starts since, making Tuesday’s return especially significant for a team looking to build a fully healthy rotation down the stretch.

His timing lines up with a broader reinforcement of the Dodgers’ rotation, coming one day after Skubal’s home debut in the same series against Kansas City, giving Los Angeles a fully stacked group of arms as the club looks to build momentum down the stretch.

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