CHICAGO -- The Dodgers are looking at a bit of a longer timeline to get one of their big offseason additions back.
Plans for left-hander Blake Snell to throw his next bullpen session ¨C expected to happen Wednesday at Wrigley Field ¨C have been scrapped for the time being, revealed manager Dave Roberts.
Roberts said Snell, who has been on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation, didn¡¯t feel great after playing catch Tuesday. Though Roberts said it isn¡¯t any more concerning to this point, the group decided it would be best to move forward at a slower pace. Snell will likely get checked out again when the team returns to Los Angeles.
¡°Part of the messaging from us to Blake is, it's about later on in the season, and if there's any type of discomfort, let's not try to fight through it,¡± Roberts said. ¡°Given where we're at right now on the calendar, not concerned at all. And even talking to Blake yesterday, wasn't concerned.¡±
The 32-year-old Snell has been on the shelf since April 6 (retroactive to April 3) with the shoulder ailment. He had been throwing a bullpen session and felt soreness in his shoulder. Snell later had an MRI that showed the inflammation but otherwise came back clean, still warranting a stint on the IL.
Snell threw his first bullpen session Saturday, and there was some hope that he wouldn¡¯t need to go out on a rehab assignment. However, this setback could push things back to the point where one or more rehab starts are necessary.
Roberts wasn¡¯t sure Wednesday if Snell had received a cortisone injection or anything similar, but treatment like that isn¡¯t off the table.
¡°I would say that whatever we can [do] to kind of get the feeling, the sensation, the uncomfort to dissipate, I think we would be open to -- with, obviously, his agreeing to [it],¡± Roberts said. ¡°So I think right now, when we get back, get our doctors on him, take a couple days without throwing, see where we're at. We'll know more then.¡±
The Dodgers signed Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract in November. In two starts with Los Angeles, the two-time Cy Young Award winner has posted a 2.00 ERA, but he hasn¡¯t pitched since April 2.