The Los Angeles Dodgers fell 3-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a game where all eyes were on Blake Snell. The left-hander, who returned this season after a long stint on the injured list, showed a worrying decrease in the velocity of his pitches.
Despite the doubts, Snell managed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks. After the game, manager Dave Roberts attributed the drop in velocity to the birth of Snell’s son and other personal adjustments: “It’s been a weird week for him,” he said.
A drop in speed
The left-hander averaged 93.7 mph, almost two miles below his season average. However, he relied on his secondary pitches – changeup, curveball and slider – to generate up to 16 called strikes, which allowed him to get ahead despite the limitations.
Snell was self-critical after allowing three runs in the fourth and sixth innings. “It wasn’t just bad pitches; they’re just not good pitches. If I get that changeup down to Moreno, it’s different. It was frustrating, but I know what I have to do,” he said. He also acknowledged that he failed to handle sequences against hitters such as Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno, but was eager to face them again at the end of the season.
A pitcher aware of his situation
Snell himself acknowledged the drop in his velocity, but downplayed the issue: “I had a very busy week, a lot going on. I’m aware of it, but I’m not worried about it. I know it will come back. Today was what I had and I have to be better.”
Although the loss to Arizona reflects the left-hander’s consistency issues, Snell remains confident he can regain his best form. The Dodgers, hit by injuries to their rotation, need the former Cy Young winner to find stability sooner rather than later if they are to be strong heading into the final stretch of the season.
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