Dave Roberts said on September 25, 2026, that Blake Snell is expected to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers but likely will not pitch more than five innings in his return from a left groin issue.
“I don't see it going north of five innings,” Roberts said. He noted that Snell has not pitched much over the last two weeks, adding that the Dodgers want to build up his work without pushing him before the postseason.
Roberts stated that Snell feels good and that the team is comfortable with him making the start. He explained that approximately five innings would be positive if Snell feels well, while emphasizing that five innings is “probably just an arbitrary number” rather than a strict requirement.
Roberts added that completing an outing in good condition can matter more than extending a pitcher unnecessarily. He described the goal as determining how much the Dodgers should push Snell as he returns from the left groin issue and limited recent pitching work.
Roberts also discussed Snell's relationship with Tarik Skubal, saying there is mutual respect and competition between the two left-handed starters. He said Snell and Skubal should push each other, with each player pushing the other.
The Dodgers plan to limit Blake Snell while monitoring how he feels, and Roberts said the postseason break could provide six, seven or eight additional days for the team to prepare him after the outing.