Blake SnellThis nightmare of the season appears to put him back on the injured list, as the Giants had to leave today’s starter against the Yankees due to left groin tightness. Snell had pitched 4 2/3 innings and the first two pitches of at-bat against Alex Verdugo Before he had to leave after visiting the team coach. Talk to NBC Sports Bay Area And other media outlets after the game, Giants manager Bob Melvin indicated that Snell will almost certainly be sent back to the 15-day IL, and a fuller timeline may be known when Snell undergoes an MRI tomorrow.
A similar injury placed Snell’s initial placement on the IL on April 23, where he ended up missing nearly a month of action due to a left adductor strain. Today marks Snell’s third start in action, and he again had little success, finishing with three earned runs on his 4 2/3 frames.
The NL Cy Young Award winner now has a 9.51 ERA over 23 2/3 innings since signing a two-year, $62 million free agent contract with San Francisco on March 19. Since Snell only signed a week before Opening Day, his preseason work consisted of extended spring training and simulated games, and the rust has been very evident since he made his debut with the Giants on April 8. It’s not a stretch to say that these groin/adductor injuries may also result from Snell not being fully strengthened at the start of his season, although he looked great in rehab trips while recovering from his previous injury.
Assuming the MRI doesn’t reveal anything more serious, it looks like Snell will remain on the sidelines for at least another month, as he and the Giants certainly want to make sure this injury is fully dealt with before Snell resumes another round of throwing and rehab sessions. Little league. Given the calendar, it seems possible that Snell could remain out until after the All-Star break, if the Giants want to give him more time if he’s not fully ready by the start of July.
Missing more time also has broader implications for Snell’s future in San Francisco, where his contract includes an opt-out clause. The two-year deal is designed to allow Snell to quickly re-enter the market after another strong season, this time getting the more lucrative long-term deal that eluded him last winter. However, even if he returns in July to his previous form and shoots the ball like an ace the rest of the way, a lackluster first three months may have already done enough to reinforce any doubts teams have about Snell’s ability to stay healthy. Staying with the Giants and making another $30 million in 2025 isn’t exactly an ugly outcome for Snell, but since he will be 33 on Opening Day 2026, time is running out for Snell to maximize his earnings potential.
Only five National League teams have winning records, so the 29-31 Giants still hold on to the third wild-card spot despite all their struggles. Rotation has been an obvious concern, too Logan Webb, Jordan HicksAnd Kyle Harrison The only reliable start was in San Francisco – Snell, Keaton WayneAnd Mason Black I’ve had the majority of other starts and none of them have shown well. Wayne was also sidelined with a forearm strain, though he was set for a minor league rehab game on Tuesday.
Since the Giants have days off on Thursday and June 13, they can keep Wayne on his planned rehab schedule because the team won’t need a fifth baseman for nearly three weeks. The Lions could also be recalled from Triple-A, and the Giants are still at least six weeks away from that Robbie Ray or Alex Cobb As valid candidates to return from IL for 60 days. Ray will pitch in an Arizona Complex League game this week as he continues to rehabilitate his way back from Tommy John surgery, and Cobb has started throwing again after shoulder discomfort led to a shutdown in mid-May.