Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is close to making his 2026 season debut. He started a rehab assignment with the Ontario Town Buzzers on April 22 and is expected to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of May.

While Snell’s return is great news for the starting rotation, the Dodgers will be faced with a difficult decision to make. Los Angeles will have to decide whether to move Emmett Sheehan, Roki Sasaki or Justin Wrobleski to the bullpen to maintain a six-man rotation.

Wrobleski is the newest addition to the rotation. He made eight starts between his first two seasons with the Dodgers in 2024 and 2025 but primarily pitched out of the bullpen. The left-hander shifted into a starting role after his first appearance of the season. Since joining the rotation, Wrobleski has given up just two earned runs in 26 innings.

Based off his recent outings, it seems unlikely the Dodgers would take Wrobleski out of the rotation.

“He’s proven he’s a major league starter… he gives us a chance to win every time he goes out there,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Wrobleski, per DodgersBeat.

Dodgers Said Sasaki Will Stay in Rotation

Sasaki and Sheehan are battling for the sixth spot in the rotation when Snell returns.

Both have made five starts this season, with Sasaki posting a 6.35 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 22.2 innings and Sheehan accruing a 4.78 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.

On paper, Sheehan has been performing better for longer starts than Sasaki. However, Roberts said the decision about who will remain in the rotation is not solely based on results but also the development process.

“I think for me, I am more process,” Roberts said, per MLB, “and I will continue to bet on the results. … Process is strike-throwing, sequencing, the right quality of execution, and then you’ll bet on things like that. Not putting guys on with free bases, and all that stuff. That’s what I really look at.”

Sasaki’s early-season starts have some people urging the Dodgers to move him to the bullpen. Even with the loss of closer Edwin Díaz, Los Angeles continues to say Sasaki will not be taken out of the rotation.

Snell is reportedly expected to make at least three more rehab starts before returning to the Dodgers. His second rehab start is scheduled for Tuesday.

In the meantime, the Dodgers will need to figure out which pitchers will remain in the rotation when Snell is back.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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