Blake Snell took another step toward his eventual return to the Majors on Tuesday night.
Snell made his second rehab start, this time with the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex League affiliate, tossing three innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. After allowing consecutive doubles to begin the bottom of the first, Snell retired nine of the final 10 batters that he faced.
The 32-year-old left-hander is working his way back from left shoulder inflammation, which first landed him on the IL on April 6, retroactive to April 3. He experienced lingering discomfort in his shoulder while initially attempting to ramp back up in April.
At last, his return seems to be on the horizon. Snell tossed 31 pitches across two scoreless innings in his first rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on July 10. The Dodgers want him to make at least three rehab starts and stretch out to the five-inning/75-pitch range before rejoining the club.
Snell pitched to a 2.00 ERA in two starts with the Dodgers before his injury. He’s in the first year of a five-year, $182 million contract that he signed in the offseason.
Snell isn’t the only Dodgers arm on his way back. Veteran right-hander Blake Treinen -- on the IL since April 19 with a right forearm tightness -- made his third rehab appearance in relief of Snell on Tuesday night. Treinen allowed a home run in an inning of work, recording a strikeout.