Royals @ Dodgers August 11, 2026: Blake Snell returns as Dodgers look for a series win

Alex Campos 08/11/2026 Game Threads Leave A Comment

The Dodgers (71-48) won a back-and-forth series opener against the Royals, coming back from an early 3-0 deficit before blowing a 5-3 lead in the seventh. Shohei Ohtani singled to lead off the seventh, stole second and scored on a Freddie Freeman single for a 6-5 lead. Edwin Diaz tossed only his third 1-2-3 inning of the season to close the game out to give the Dodgers a second win in three games since snapping their season-long seven-game losing streak. Today, they look for their first series win in their last four series and welcome Blake Snell back off the IL.

Snell returns from the IL for his second start of the season tonight. Snell started the season on the IL with a shoulder issue and made one start against Atlanta back in May. Snell allowed five runs (four earned) and six hits in three innings and needed 77 pitches to record nine outs. He finished off the game but was scratched before his next start with loose bodies in his elbow, which kept him on the shelf for roughly two months. He returned for a rehab assignment on July 18 and made four rehab starts, allowing four runs on nine hits in 11 2/3 innings over those starts. Snell struck out 19 batters and issued five walks, four of which came in his final rehab start last Tuesday. Snell topped out at 73 pitches in that start last week and is back tonight without a set in stone pitch count.

They’re hoping to get him to the five inning/80 pitch range, but given Snell’s tendencies, 80 pitches could be like a 2 2/3 inning outing. Snell’s final start as a Giant in 2024 came against the Royals, and he allowed two hits over six shutout innings with one walk and nine strikeouts.

Michael Wacha gets the ball for Kansas City.

Wacha was an All-Star this season for the Royals with a 3.44 ERA in 144 innings over his 23 starts. He had a 3.77 at the break and ended the first half with a six run outing against the Mets but has been nails since, allowing five earned runs (and two unearned) in 24 2/3 innings over his last four starts. He pitched into the sixth inning in each of the four starts and got through six in three of them, but still managed three no-decisions and one loss despite his success. He’s coming off a no-decision against Minnesota last Thursday where he only allowed two baserunners over the first four innings. He allowed a leadoff homer in the fifth and fell in trouble later in the inning after he gave up two two-out walks and a single to load the bases. He got out of that jam and got the first two outs of the sixth inning before getting pulled at 94 pitches. He left the game with a 2-1 lead and they added an insurance run for a 3-1 lead, but Aaron Bummer and Nate Pearson combined to allow three runs in the eighth for a 4-3 Twin win. Wacha hasn’t seen the Dodgers since he was a Padre in 2023 and he gave up seven runs on seven hits in four innings in an 11-2 Dodger win.

Wacha’s faced the Dodgers nine times in his career and it has not gone very well for him. The Dodgers have a .997 OPS off Wacha and he’s 1-6 with an 8.34 ERA against the Dodgers, all of which are his worst numbers against any team. Freeman is 8-for-15 with five walks and a homer off Wacha. Teo is 6-for-11 with a walk, two homers and a double off Wacha in his career.

Freeman hits second today with Andy Pages dropping down to third, which could be the norm going forward against right-handed pitching moving forward. Alex Call gets a rare start with Teoscar Hernandez sitting which is a bit of a shame for Teo. He’s 6-for-11 with a walk, two homers and a double off Wacha in his career. Ben Rortvedt also gets the start behind the plate.

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Tyler Glasnow could be back in a couple weeks.

Glasnow made his second rehab start on Sunday, throwing 47 pitches in 2 2/3 innings for OKC. He’s set to make his next start Friday and make one more before potentially being back with the Dodgers, which would line him up to return in the final week of August.

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Dalton Rushing and Will Klein could both avoid elbow surgery.

Rushing is swinging a bat and could be back as a pinch hitter later in the year. Klein’s elbow is feeling better with rest and could begin some throwing programs this week. They’re hopeful he’ll be back this season without surgery.

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Almost forgot to include the Snell roster move. Charlie Barnes was optioned and Blake Treinen was moved to the 60-day IL.

Treinen’s timeline hasn’t changed as he’s still eligible to come off the IL next Thursday but hasn’t started a rehab assignment yet.

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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be on SportsNet LA.

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About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.
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