If you just glance at the back of a baseball card, Blake Snell looks like a riddle wrapped in an enigma, probably wearing a pair of high-end gaming headphones. Honestly, the 2025 blake snell game log is one of the weirdest statistical stretches we’ve seen from a multi-time Cy Young winner in years. It wasn't a "down" year, but it definitely wasn't a "normal" one either.
You’ve got the 2.35 ERA staring you in the face. That's elite. Like, "top of the rotation, pay this man whatever he wants" elite. But then you see the innings. Just 61.1 frames in the regular season.
Basically, Snell spent a huge chunk of 2025 on the shelf with left shoulder inflammation, leaving Dodgers fans wondering if the five-year, $182 million investment was going to haunt them.
The Regular Season Rollercoaster
Snell didn't even start his season on time. When he finally did take the mound, he was "Snellzilla" in short, violent bursts. He made 11 starts. That’s it. But in those 11 starts, he was essentially unhittable.
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Look at his September 17th outing. 7.0 innings. No runs. Double-digit strikeouts. It was a vintage performance that felt like a warning shot to the rest of the league right before the playoffs. He was throwing that "pretty" fastball Clayton Kershaw keeps talking about—the one that seems to defy physics as it crosses the plate at 97 mph.
Then there was the September 24th game against the Diamondbacks. 6 innings, one run, five hits. He didn't have his "A" stuff, yet he wiggled out of jams like a magician. That’s the thing about the blake snell game log; even when he walks four guys (which happened in early September against the Phillies), he usually strikes out 12 to make up for it.
The WHIP sat at 1.26. A bit high for a guy with a 2.35 ERA? Sure. But that’s the Snell experience. You trade a few walks for a complete lack of hard contact.
Why the Postseason Log Changed the Narrative
If Snell had just packed it in after those 11 regular-season starts, the 2025 season would’ve been labeled a "what if." But the postseason is where he earned that massive paycheck.
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The Dodgers unleashed him, and he responded by going 3-0 in his first three starts of the playoffs.
Key 2025 Postseason Highlights:
- NL Wild Card Game 1: 7 innings, 2 runs, 9 strikeouts against the Reds. He looked untouchable until the 7th.
- NLCS Game 1 vs. Brewers: A masterpiece. 8.0 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 10 strikeouts. This was arguably the best game of his career considering the stakes.
- World Series Game 5: This was the reality check. Toronto got to him for 5 runs in 6.2 innings. It happens.
Even with that World Series hiccup, he finished the playoffs with a 3.18 ERA across 34 innings. That’s more than half of his regular-season workload crammed into one month of high-leverage baseball.
The "Health vs. Dominance" Debate
Some critics argue that a guy who only makes 11 starts isn't a true "ace." I get it. Reliability is a skill. But the Dodgers’ front office seems to have a different philosophy. They aren't necessarily looking for 200 innings of 3.80 ERA ball. They want 100 innings of "you can’t touch this" followed by a dominant October.
Snell’s 28.3% strikeout rate in 2025 proves the "stuff" is still there. His curveball spin rate is still in the elite tiers, and his changeup—which he used about 24% of the time—was a nightmare for right-handed hitters.
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We saw him miss four months. That’s a long time. However, when he returned, he posted a 0.47 ERA over his final three regular-season starts. He wasn't just "back"; he was better.
What’s Next for Snell in 2026?
As we head into the 2026 season, the blake snell game log is going to be the most watched document in Los Angeles. With Clayton Kershaw retired, the "lefty ace" mantle is officially Snell's to lose.
The Dodgers have the depth to handle him if he needs another stint on the IL, but they’d obviously prefer a 25-start season. If he stays healthy, he’s a perennial Cy Young candidate. If he doesn't, he's still the most dangerous weapon in a short series.
Actionable Insights for Following Snell:
- Watch the First Pitch Strikes: In 2025, when Snell’s first-pitch strike rate was over 60%, he almost always went 6+ innings. If he's falling behind 1-0, expect a short night.
- Monitor the Velocity: His "danger zone" is when the fastball sits at 94 mph. When it's 96-98 mph, he's usually headed for a double-digit strikeout game.
- Check the Matchups: He has historically struggled with the Brewers (5.79 career ERA), so keep an eye on his starts against Milwaukee specifically.
The 2025 season proved that Blake Snell doesn't need a full year to be the most impactful pitcher on a roster. He just needs a mound and a healthy shoulder for the month of October.