Blake Snell DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) played catch on Monday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list eight days ago on April 6 with left-shoulder inflammation. Snell thought he could pitch through his shoulder issue but eventually landed on the IL and was shut down from throwing for a short period of time. The 32-year-old will now need to work up to bullpen sessions and game action in a minor-league setting before the Dodgers return him to their starting rotation, likely in early May, barring any setbacks. Snell felt good while throwing on Monday and is expected to play catch again on Tuesday. Although the two-time Cy Young winner had eight walks and only four strikeouts in nine innings over his first two starts of the year before getting injured, he had allowed only two earned runs. Keep Snell stashed in all fantasy formats.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing until Monday, according to manager Dave Roberts. It's just rest, though, and there is no planned medical intervention. An MRI exam on Snell's left shoulder recently only showed inflammation, which led the 32-year-old veteran southpaw to say that he was hoping for a minimal stay on the injured list. However, there's no current timetable for his return to L.A.'s starting rotation, and we won't have a better idea on when he might return until he resumes throwing. In the meantime, the Dodgers will roll with a six-man starting rotation that will now include left-hander Justin Wrobleski and right-hander Landon Knack. Of the two, Knack is the more attractive deep-league/DFS streamer when he makes his first start against the Nationals on Wednesday. Snell should be stashed in all fantasy formats.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) said he's been pitching through left-shoulder soreness for three weeks, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. He thought he could get through it but was unable to finish his bullpen session on Sunday. Thankfully, an MRI exam on Sunday showed only inflammation and no structural damage in his left shoulder. Snell is hopeful he will only need a couple of weeks, but that will depend on when he resumes throwing after being placed on the injured list. With Snell on the shelf, both Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski are expected to be recalled from the minors this week while the Dodgers roll with a six-man starting rotation moving forward. Fantasy managers will need to stash Snell in an IL spot after he opened his first year in L.A. by giving up only two unearned runs with eight walks and four strikeouts in nine innings in his first two starts for the Dodgers.