Blake Snell knows exactly what the Dodgers didn’t finish in 2026, and he’s not hiding from it.
After Los Angeles’ disappointing end to the season, the left-hander said his focus is on getting back to the standard the Dodgers set for themselves - and on finally giving the club a full season of the version that made him one of the game’s best. Snell was sharp when available, but injuries kept interrupting the story.
“The standard is for us to get to the World Series and win it, but we fell short,” Snell said. “There’s a lot I could’ve done better. For me, personally, it’s pitch a full season, dominate, and just be the best version of me for a full season.”
That mission matters because Snell has barely had a chance to settle in since signing a five-year, $182 million deal before the 2025 season. He has appeared in only 20 regular-season games for the Dodgers since putting pen to paper, and health has been the main obstacle.
When he was on the mound in 2026, Snell delivered. He posted a 1.90 ERA in nine regular-season starts, but a shoulder injury and then surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow wiped out most of his year. The southpaw has dealt with injury issues since arriving in Los Angeles, and he’s openly targeting a cleaner run next season.
His 2025 season offered a bigger sample, though it still came with a lot of missed time. Snell battled inflammation in his throwing shoulder and spent most of the year on the injured list, but he still made 11 starts. In those outings, he put up a 2.5 ERA over 61.1 innings and struck out 72 batters.
He also worked six postseason games during the Dodgers’ World Series run, finishing with a 3.18 ERA.
The wear and tear from that long 2025 season showed up early in 2026. Snell’s shoulder issue returned, sending him back to the injured list for a couple of months.
He returned for one game, then landed back on the IL with the elbow problem. In the playoffs, he pitched twice and allowed five runs in 9.2 innings.
At his peak, Snell has been every bit the ace the Dodgers hoped for. He is a two-time Cy Young winner, and those awards came in the only two seasons in which he has made 30 or more regular-season starts. If he can finally put together a healthy full season in Los Angeles, the ceiling is still right there.
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