Blake Snell’s first season with the Giants hasn’t gone well at all, and his latest rehab start has added to the woes.
The 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner pitched just 1 2/3 innings for the Sacramento River Cats on Sunday, while allowing three hits, two earned runs and walking three batters. He did not record any strikeouts.
Snell, on the disabled list with a groin strain, expressed frustration after his 51-pitch outing against the Round Rock Express, alluding to possible pressure from the Giants to return before he is ready.
“I haven’t felt like myself yet,” Snell told reporters in Sacramento (h/t Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle). “It’s just, ‘We need you.’ We need you. We need you.’ It’s not like, ‘Let’s do it right,’ and I have to deal with that.
“I want to be healthy and 100 percent and I haven’t been. I’ve just been fighting to run back. So that’s my opinion. I’m frustrated with that. And you’re not getting the product of what you should be and it’s just frustrating. I want to go out there and dominate and throw the way I throw, but it’s more important to be out there.”
Snell suffered the groin injury during his June 2 start against the New York Yankees and was placed on the disabled list the next day.
This is the second time Snell has missed extended time since signing with the Giants, as he dealt with an adductor strain that sidelined him for four weeks in April and May.
The Giants’ rotation has been decimated by injuries lately and the team is falling in the NL wild card standings as the midway point of the season quickly approaches. If San Francisco is putting behind-the-scenes pressure on Snell to return quickly, those two facts are likely a big reason.
The season is slipping away from the Giants and the pressure is mounting on everyone in the organization.
Snell signed with the Giants 10 days before the start of the 2024 MLB season, so he did not have proper spring training to strengthen his arm. Instead of making one or two minor league starts before joining the major league club, he pitched simulated games and threw bullpen sessions.
In just six MLB starts for the Giants this season, Snell has a 9.51 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 2/1 innings. He has failed to complete five full innings in any of his outings, going 4 2/3 twice.
The Giants (36-42) have lost five games in a row, and although they are just three games out of the final wild card spot, only the Miami Marlins (27-50) and the Colorado Rockies (27-51) have worse records so far. .
The Giants need Snell to return as soon as he’s ready, but it seems like he might need more time than they have.
Download and follow the Giants Talk podcast
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.