Snell Solid in Return as Dodgers Chase 100th Win in Finale at San Francisco
The short version
- Dodgers can reach 100 wins for the first time since 2023 with a win Sunday over the Giants.
- Blake Snell threw four shutout innings Saturday in his first start since September 16, striking out three without a walk.
- Snell said he has moved past his groin issue and welcomed the extra week of rest before the postseason.
- Shohei Ohtani has played four games since returning from the injured list; Dave Roberts sees better plate discipline coming.
- Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott are set for the postseason bullpen.
Blake Snell threw four shutout innings Saturday in his first start since mid-September, and Los Angeles can reach 100 wins Sunday against the Giants.
The Los Angeles Dodgers close out their regular season Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park with a milestone on the line. A victory would give the club 100 wins for the first time since 2023.
Blake Snell made his return Saturday in the second-to-last game of the year, his first start since leaving early against the Cincinnati Reds on September 16. The left-hander threw four shutout innings in a 4-3 Dodgers win over the Giants, allowing no walks and striking out three.
Snell said afterward that his body responded well, including his fastball velocity, though he noted some inconsistency he plans to address. He told Sonja Chen of MLB.com that the outing let him move past the groin issue that had kept him out, and that a week of rest before October gives him time to fine-tune.
The short outing was by design, as Snell did not pitch even half of Saturday's game. Still, the start showed he is lined up for the postseason, and the added downtime is viewed as a benefit for the veteran heading into the playoffs.
Shohei Ohtani has played four games since being activated off the injured list, and the team believes stronger performances are ahead, per Mirjam Swanson of the Los Angeles Times. Manager Dave Roberts pointed to Ohtani taking a slider from Robbie Ray for a ball on Wednesday as a sign of better plate discipline after weeks of chasing pitches.
Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott are set for the postseason bullpen, per Dylan Hernandez of the California Post. Sasaki is looking to bring more intensity in a relief role, while Scott is preparing for his first postseason with the Dodgers.
Scott said October is about winning every game regardless of the role assigned, and that his focus is simply going out and doing whatever job is asked of him.
The Dodgers visit the Giants on Sunday, September 27 at 3:05 PM EDT at Oracle Park. The game airs on MLB.TV, NBC Sports BA and SportsNet LA.
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