Blake Snell Tapped to Start NLDS Game 2 for Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has selected pitcher Blake Snell to start Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Atlanta Braves. This decision places Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had a Cy Young-caliber season, in line to pitch Game 3.

Snell's 2026 season was marked by health issues, including shoulder fatigue that delayed his debut until May 9 and an elbow procedure that sidelined him for three months. His lone early start against Atlanta was limited to three innings, during which he allowed four earned runs. However, upon his return in August, the former Cy Young winner demonstrated renewed effectiveness, posting a 1.13 earned run average over eight starts.

During this late-season stretch, Snell recorded 50 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings, averaging 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings. This performance has led the Dodgers to rely on his strikeout prowess in the postseason, where he has historically maintained an 11.6 K/9 rate.

Roberts' strategy of starting consecutive left-handed pitchers is a calculated move against the Braves, a team that has struggled against lefties in 2026. Atlanta's offensive metrics against left-handed pitching this year include a Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) below league average, a .696 on-base plus slugging (OPS) that ranks among the bottom 10, and the 11th-highest strikeout total in Major League Baseball. Snell's pitching style, which emphasizes expanding the strike zone and limiting hard contact, is considered advantageous against a Braves lineup known for chasing pitches and making contact on those swings at a low rate.

Despite the Phillies' left-handed starters not surpassing 6.5 strikeouts against the Braves in their recent Wild Card series, the Dodgers are anticipating Snell to exceed this mark. The recommended play is for Blake Snell to record over 6.5 strikeouts in Game 2, with odds of -134 on DraftKings.