Blake Snell throws 6 scoreless innings vs. Dodgers

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Lefty pads Cy Young resume as Padres win first regular-season collection vs. Dodgers since June 2021

6:09 AM UTC

LOS ANGELES -- Earlier this month, because the Padres laid out their rotation plans for the stretch run, pitching coach Ruben Niebla got here to Blake Snell with a query. The Padres had been using Snell pretty onerous by means of the Dog Days. If Snell wished an additional day of relaxation, the staff might bump his scheduled begin to Friday night time in Oakland.

Snell didn't need that further relaxation. He wished the ball. He wished the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

And with six scoreless innings in opposition to the most effective offenses in baseball, Snell delivered his most emphatic Cy Young assertion to this point.

Behind Snell's efforts, the Padres cruised to a 6-1 victory on Wednesday night time at Dodger Stadium, their first regular-season collection win over L.A. in 13 makes an attempt. (Last October’s NLDS upset however.) Snell pitched six good frames, permitting only one hit whereas placing out eight and strolling one.

In the method, Snell lowered his ERA to a Major League-best 2.43. He entered Tuesday’s begin already the obvious frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award -- however with a handful of contenders on his heels.

Then, on the highway, in one of many sport’s hardest environments in opposition to one of many sport’s hardest lineups, Snell greater than held serve. He was dominant.

“Cy Young-dominant,” supervisor Bob Melvin clarified.

Snell, in fact, had the choice to keep away from the Dodgers completely -- a transfer that, on the floor, may’ve bolstered his Cy Young credentials. Los Angeles boasts the Majors' second-best offense, per wRC+. Oakland ranks twenty third.

But that’s not Snell’s type. He prefers matchups like this one, and like final Friday night time in Houston.

“I just enjoy the moment,” Snell stated. “I enjoy the challenge. That’s why you play, to play the best teams. It’s the only way you can really tell how good you are.”

How good is Snell? Not solely does he lead the Majors in ERA, he additionally leads the NL in hits per 9 innings (5.98) and batting common in opposition to (.187), and is second in strikeouts (217, behind Spencer Strider’s 259).

“He seems to be on a little bit of a mission,” Melvin stated. “This late in the season, to be throwing as hard as he does and have all four pitches working like that, he’s a tough customer to deal with.”

The case in opposition to Snell is basically rooted within the theoretical. Snell's stroll price (5.01%) is unusually excessive for a Cy Young contender, and due to these walks, his peripheral numbers point out he ought to enable extra runs than he does. The truth stays: Snell is not permitting these runs.

In any case, Snell was at his dominant finest on Wednesday night time, recording just one stroll whereas utilizing his four-pitch mix to maintain Dodgers hitters off-balance.

“Yeah, I mean, we've faced him quite a bit,” stated Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor. “... He's always had success against us. I thought tonight was the best he's looked since we've faced him.”

The Padres staked Snell to a lead straightaway on Juan Soto's thirtieth dwelling run of the season. Luis Campusano made it 4-0 within the fourth with a three-run blast, and Fernando Tatis Jr. put the sport out of attain with a two-run single within the sixth.

Snell had solely thrown 91 pitches at that time. But there was little motive to run him again out for one more inning, significantly with out that further day of relaxation after his robust effort in Houston. Snell completed having allowed solely two baserunners -- Mookie Betts’ leadoff single and his third-inning stroll. Snell retired Betts by way of popup within the sixth. The different Dodgers starters mixed to go 0-for-17.

“He’s trying to make his push for the Cy Young, and understandably so,” stated L.A. supervisor Dave Roberts. “He’s having that type of season. A guy like that, with the stuff that he has, when he’s on, there’s just not many lineups that can do anything with him.”

Now the ball is in Justin Steele’s court docket. The Cubs left-hander has seemingly emerged as Snell’s prime challenger. Prior to Snell's outing on Wednesday, Arizona's Zac Gallen was roughed up by the Mets. Fellow contender Strider beat the Phillies -- however his case took a significant hit final week, when he allowed six earned runs to St. Louis whereas recording solely eight outs.

On Wednesday, Snell insisted he’s not scoreboard watching.

“I don’t wish nothing against them,” Snell stated. “I’m just going to focus on what I’m going to do, and how I’m going to help this team win.”

And if he picks up some {hardware} alongside the way in which? 

“You want to be the best pitcher you can be,” Snell stated final week. “That award kind of clarifies that. I'm chasing that, because I'm chasing greatness.”

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