Dodgers' Blake Snell: Will likely start stateside opener
Rotowire
Snell is slated to pitch in one of two exhibition games in Tokyo, Japan on March 15 and 16, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts implied that the southpaw will start the team's home regular-season opener in Los Angeles on March 27, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
A pair of Japanese-born hurlers -- Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki -- have been tabbed to start for the Dodgers in the regular-season-opening two-game series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, but it doesn't appear that either of those pitchers will get the ball again for the team's stateside opener against Detroit on March 27. Instead, Snell is likely to get the call for that contest after joining Los Angeles on a five-year, $182 million contract in late November. Snell made his second spring start Sunday against the Athletics and gave up four runs on five hits over 3.2 innings, but he struck out five batters, averaged 95.2 mph on his fastball and threw 67 pitches, so he appears to be ramping up well for the regular season.
Dodgers' Blake Snell: Hurls scoreless frame in LA debut
Rotowire
Snell threw one scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a Cactus League contest against Seattle on Tuesday.
Snell threw at least eight pitches to three of the four batters he faced, so he racked up a hearty pitch count of 30 despite allowing just one baserunner. Per Statcast, the lefty's fastball sat at 95-to-96 mph, which is right in line with where it's been over the past several seasons. After signing a five-year contract in November, Snell is slated to be part of a revamped Dodgers rotation that, on paper, looks to be one of the best in the big leagues.
Dodgers' Blake Snell: Debuting with Dodgers on Tuesday
Rotowire
Snell will pitch for the first time this spring Tuesday against Seattle, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Snell joined the Dodgers on a five-year contract in November and is set to be a key figure in the team's revamped rotation. The two-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from a rough beginning with the Giants last year to finish with a 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 145:44 K:BB over 104 innings. Snell is unlikely to go more than an inning or two in his spring debut Tuesday. He's not expected to start in either of Los Angeles' two Tokyo games against the Cubs to kick off the MLB regular season, but manager Dave Roberts has indicated that Snell will pitch in one of the team's two exhibition games in Japan versus teams from the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.
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