Dodgers fall to Rays 4-0 on Aug 2, but Blake Snell's dominant 7-strikeout return from injury provides a major silver lining for their 2025 season hopes.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Sometimes, the final score doesn't tell the whole story. While a 4-0 shutout loss to the Tampa Bay Rays is never the goal, Saturday's game felt more like a strategic win for the Dodgers' long-term aspirations. The reason? Blake Snell is back, and he looked every bit the ace this team needs for a deep postseason run.
Having the starters healthy, pitching the way they're capable of, makes it a better quality of life for everyone.
Making his first start since landing on the 60-day IL, Blake Snell was electric. Despite giving up two long balls to former Ray Yandy Díaz, Snell's underlying numbers were fantastic. Over 5 1/3 innings, he threw 86 pitches (57 for strikes), struck out seven, and allowed just three runs. The most telling stat? Snell generated a whopping 19 swings-and-misses, tied for the third-most by any Dodger pitcher this season. His changeup was baffling hitters, and his slider had its classic bite. It was a clear sign that the rust is gone and the ace is ready to anchor the rotation.
Unfortunately, Snell's impressive return was wasted by a completely silent offense. The Dodgers managed just six hits against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen and the Tampa Bay bullpen. Their golden opportunity came in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with one out, only to see Teoscar Hernández ground into an inning-ending double play. It was a frustrating display that killed any momentum and left Snell with a loss he didn't deserve. Junior Caminero added a late solo homer for the Rays to seal the 4-0 victory.
Snell's official activation from the injured list, which sent Paul Gervase to Triple-A, marks a pivotal moment. Manager Dave Roberts couldn't hide his optimism, noting how a healthy and effective rotation lifts the entire team. This move comes after a busy trade period that reshaped the pitching staff, with Dustin May heading to Boston and reliever Brock Stewart arriving from Minnesota. With Snell back in form, the vision for the October rotation is becoming crystal clear.
The loss drops the Dodgers to 64-47, but Saturday was a net positive. Securing a healthy and dominant Blake Snell for the final two months is far more valuable than a single win in August. The challenge now is for the high-powered offense to wake up and provide the run support their ace-level rotation deserves. If they can sync up, this team's ceiling for October is limitless.
