Padres vs. Phillies Wednesday MLB injury report, odds: Blake Snell's season debut, Bryce Harper likely back in lineup
Former AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell will make his 2022 debut for San Diego on Wednesday.
Former American League Cy Young Award-winner Blake Snell's first season with the San Diego Padres was a disappointment in 2021, although he showed promising signs down the stretch. The lefty hasn't pitched yet in the majors this season due to an adductor injury. Snell will make his debut Wednesday in Philadelphia (See tickets at StubHub), and the Phillies expect to have reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper in the lineup after he missed the past two games. They are -160 at Caesars Sportsbook.
San Diego acquired Snell from Tampa Bay in exchange for four prospects in December 2020. The Rays know better than anyone when to trade someone at their highest value, as Snell was. Snell was 7-6 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP last year in 27 starts.
Sometimes players simply have trouble adjusting to a new league. Entering August, he was 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA but in his final seven starts of the season -- not including one he left after eight pitches with a similar adductor injury -- he allowed a .136/.211/.252 batting line with a 1.85 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.
"You want to know your team," Snell said of the 2021 turnaround. "You want to be comfortable with them and (have) them comfortable with you. It's very important. As we did that last year, I started to hit my groove and it was like, 'I feel like I'm part of the team, this is my team.' The stuff was always there."
Snell made three starts on his minor-league rehab assignment with a 2.77 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 13 innings. San Diego's rotation could be the National League's best with Snell, Yu Darvish, Sean Manaea, Mike Clevinger, and Joe Musgrove -- so good that stellar rookie MacKenzie Gore (2-1, 2.42 ERA) is likely heading to the bullpen/occasional sixth starter role. Gore is currently a +450 second favorite at Caesars to win NL Rookie of the Year. Pitching out of the bullpen won't help his chances.
As for Harper, he sat Sunday in Los Angeles and Tuesday's series opener vs. the Padres -- San Diego held Philadelphia to five hits in a 3-0 win -- despite being red-hot. Harper received PRP injection to help ailing elbow, an injury that will limit Harper to DH duties for the time being. Harper was named the NL Player of the Week for last week, batting a cool .609 (14-for-23) with three homers, eight RBIs and a 1.904 OPS. Harper is now +900 to win NL MVP for the second year in a row and third time in his career. San Diego's Manny Machado is the +375 favorite.
In his last 162 games (one full season) dating to April 18, 2021, Harper is hitting .314 with a 1.049 OPS, 54 doubles, 42 homers, 105 RBIs and 101 walks. He is 1-for-6 career off Snell with a homer and four Ks.
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