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Blake Snell will make one more rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City before returning to the Dodgers’ active roster, per Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register. The left-hander is not quite ready to slot back into the big league rotation, but the finish line is now clearly in sight.

Snell’s rehab trajectory has been encouraging. In his most recent outing with Oklahoma City, he struck out nine batters and looked sharp — the kind of performance that gets you excited about what he can bring to a postseason push. The two-time Cy Young winner signed with the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season and has dealt with recurring injury issues that have limited his availability. When healthy, though, we know exactly what Snell is: a high-strikeout, swing-and-miss arm who can dominate any lineup in baseball. His career 3.20 ERA and elite spin rates make him one of the most talented pitchers on the planet — the problem has always been keeping him on the mound consistently.

This has been a frustrating stretch for Snell and for us as fans. He’s the type of pitcher who changes the complexion of a rotation overnight, and the Dodgers have been operating without him for too long. But credit to the organization for not rushing him back. They’ve been methodical about his buildup, and one more Triple-A start suggests they want him fully stretched out and confident before handing him the ball in games that matter.

The timing here is significant. With the trade deadline looming and the Dodgers aggressively pursuing rotation upgrades — the Tarik Skubal talks have dominated headlines — Snell’s return gives the front office some breathing room. Even if Andrew Friedman pulls off a blockbuster deal, getting Snell back healthy means the Dodgers could be looking at a rotation depth that’s genuinely frightening come October. You don’t often see a team add a two-time Cy Young winner from within while simultaneously shopping for another ace on the trade market.

I think the key thing with this final rehab start is workload. The Dodgers will want to see Snell push his pitch count up closer to where it needs to be for a full start — somewhere in the 85-95 range. His previous rehab outings have been more controlled, and this last one should serve as the final dress rehearsal. If it goes well, we could see him activated in time for a homestand in the first week of August.

For a team that already has the best record in the National League, getting Snell back is the kind of reinforcement that separates good teams from championship-caliber ones. We’ve been waiting on this for a while. One more start, and we should have him back where he belongs.

Source(s): Bill Plunkett (Orange County Register) | First reported: August 1, 2026 2:59 AM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers