SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stands in the dugout before their game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on April 21, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 2-1 to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani was sharp on the mound, striking out nine batters across six innings, but the offense never found its footing. The series is level with one game left, and Tyler Glasnow starts the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

It was the kind of night where the margins felt thin. Los Angeles put runners in scoring position in the early innings and left every one of them stranded. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single were enough for Miami.

Away from Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, though, there was a different kind of news. One the Dodgers have been waiting on for weeks.

Notable Injury Update for the Dodgers

While the big league club was working through a difficult night in Los Angeles, a key piece of their rotation was delivering encouraging news in the minor leagues.

The left-hander made his second rehab appearance for the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers, and the performance was exactly what the organization needed to see.

Three innings of work against the Lake Elsinore Storm produced six strikeouts, one hit, and zero walks. His pitch count sat at just 39 when the night was done. His ERA through both rehab appearances now stands at 2.25.

Blake Snell opened with a statement. The first inning took just 13 pitches, with all three hitters punched out. When a leadoff double opened the second inning, Snell did not flinch. He retired the next three batters on strikeouts. The third inning was quick and clean, three up and three down.

The command and the efficiency were exactly what Los Angeles needed to see.

What Comes Next for Snell

Snell has treated these first two appearances as information-gathering rather than performance showcases. That approach is about to give way to something more aggressive.

“The first two starts are, for me, I’m very patient,” Snell said. “I want to see how I feel, how I respond, what’s working, what’s not. After those first two starts, that’s when you get more aggressive and make it happen.”

The benchmarks ahead are specific. Snell has identified five innings and 75 pitches as the targets he needs to hit before the Dodgers bring him back to the big league rotation.

“I think five innings and 75 pitches is what they want me to get to,” Snell said. “My goal is to dominate innings, try to use the least amount of pitches as possible, so that will push the end or I can go to the bullpen and throw.”

A late May return remains the target for Snell.

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up in the outfield during batting practice before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

A Competitor Ready to Be Back

What comes through clearly in how Snell has spoken about this process is how much he wants to be back on the mound in Dodger blue. His competitive instincts have had him lobbying for a faster track back. The organization has held firm, managing the process on their own terms.

“They’re taking their time, for sure,” Snell said. “We gotta get past this, and I need to be out there and stay out there. We’ve had good meetings, and they do it the right way. I mean, they’ve been really good with me, and it’s been tough, because I’ve been wanting to push them. But there’s a reason why they’re the Dodgers, they’re really good at everything.”

The Dodgers have managed this carefully because they understand what Snell means to their rotation when he is healthy and locked in. Tuesday was a reminder of exactly that.

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 03: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the crowd during the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Celebration at Dodger Stadium on November 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Final Word for the Dodgers

Snell’s second rehab start answered the questions that mattered most. The stuff is sharp. The command is there.

The Dodgers have been patient with this process for good reason, and Snell has made clear he intends to reward that patience.

The rotation has managed without him. It will be a different conversation when he is back in it.

Soon.