Blake Snell return scheduled for Tuesday as Tarik Skubal makes home debut

Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell is expected to return to the mound Tuesday against the Royals after undergoing elbow surgery.

Blake Snell is scheduled to return from the injured list to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals. The 33-year-old left-hander has been limited to just one game this season, a May 9 outing against the Atlanta Braves. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the rotation plans on Friday, noting that the southpaw’s comeback follows a lengthy absence required for surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. This medical procedure was necessary to address persistent discomfort that had hampered his throwing motion throughout the early months of the calendar year.

Key details

Before the surgical intervention, the veteran pitcher began the current campaign on the shelf due to shoulder fatigue. The two-time Cy Young winner has faced significant durability challenges over the last three years, totaling only 32 regular-season starts during that span. Despite these recent physical hurdles, he was a vital component of the rotation during the franchise's run to a second consecutive World Series title last season. In that championship stretch, the starter recorded a 3.10 ERA and struck out 41 batters across 34 innings of postseason work, proving his value in high-leverage situations.

One day prior to the activation of the former Padres ace, recently-acquired left-hander Tarik Skubal will make his first appearance at Dodger Stadium on Monday. Skubal, the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner, joined the roster following a blockbuster trade deadline deal with the Detroit Tigers last week. His tenure with the club began on the road against the Chicago Cubs, where he pitched six innings and allowed two runs. That debut resulted in a 5-1 loss, though the individual performance met the coaching staff's expectations for a front-line starter.

The pitching reinforcements arrive as the organization faces a season-high six-game losing streak. This skid precedes a Friday night matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, a critical divisional series. The team is looking to stabilize a rotation that has relied heavily on new acquisitions and returning veterans to navigate the mid-August schedule. Integrating two elite arms into the mix is seen as the primary solution to the current defensive struggles that have plagued the bullpen and starting staff alike.

Latest developments

Snell's return marks the end of a recovery process that saw him sidelined for the majority of the first half of the season. His lone start on May 9 remains his only statistical contribution to the current regular-season campaign. The decision to slot him in for the Tuesday night game against Kansas City aligns with the debut of Skubal, creating a back-to-back sequence of Cy Young-winning left-handers starting against the Royals. This rare configuration of talent provides the Dodgers with a unique advantage as they attempt to climb back into the win column.

Skubal’s transition from the American League to the National League comes after his dominant multi-year run in Detroit. While his first start for Los Angeles ended in defeat, his six-inning performance established his immediate role in the starting five. The front office is now integrating these two high-profile arms as they attempt to reverse their recent six-game slide and build momentum following the trade deadline moves. The upcoming homestand serves as a pivotal moment for the pitching staff to prove its health and efficiency heading into the final stretch of the season.

Statistically, the rotation has struggled during the recent losing streak, posting an ERA north of 5.50 over the last week. The addition of a healthy Snell, who averaged over 11 strikeouts per nine innings last year, is expected to alleviate pressure on the relief corps. Furthermore, Skubal's ability to pitch deep into games—averaging 6.2 innings per start in his final month with the Tigers—will be crucial for a team that has seen its bullpen usage spike recently. The combination of these two lefties represents a significant investment in veteran leadership and proven postseason pedigree.