Snell feeling strong despite typical slow start

CHICAGO -- Blake Snell hasn’t gotten off to a fast start with the Padres in his third season with the club. But after allowing just two runs across five innings in his last outing, San Diego was hoping that he was finding his way back on track.

On Tuesday night at a windy Wrigley Field, Snell worked hard to get through five innings in the Padres’ 6-0 loss to the Cubs.

“The velo is picking up a little bit, looks like he’s got a little more life on the fastball,” manager Bob Melvin said. “The five walks are what got him out of the game after five innings. At times, he needs to locate a little bit better.”

Snell’s fifth start of the season wasn’t his best, and the southpaw acknowledged that he needs to improve. He allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out five. But despite the line, the left-hander is happy where he is on the mound.

“I feel good, I like where I’m at,” Snell said. “The walks are what’s hurting. [I need] to clean that up, and that’ll allow me to go deeper in the ballgame. Pitching-wise, I’m making the right pitches. It’s the walks that are hurting.”

Snell’s command had him in a hole from the start, as he labored through a 27-pitch first inning that included two walks. He gave up a two-run homer to Cubs’ catcher Yan Gomes in the second.

But Snell still gave the Padres five strong innings of two-run ball and delivered some sweet punchouts in the process. He rung up Cubs left fielder Ian Happ looking with a curveball on the inside corner in the third inning, and got third baseman Patrick Wisdom to swing on a breaking ball below the zone to end his outing in the fifth.

Those types of pitches are what made Snell the 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner. When he has his command and is on his game, he can still be one of the best pitchers in baseball.

“You know, he gets better as the season goes along,” Melvin said. “He came into Spring Training this year expecting to take care of those early season issues. At times, he’s been good, it’s just been like tonight -- a matter of walks."

Through five starts to begin the season, Snell is now 0-4 with a 5.48 ERA. He’s walked at least five batters in two of his last three starts, and at least three in four of his last five. Snell hasn’t gone more than five innings in any outing.

“If you chase results, it’s only gonna make you worse,” Snell said. “If you trust the process, trust what you’re doing, and you stick by it, you’ll be rewarded.”

His slow start in 2023 shouldn’t cause any panic, though. In all three years with the Padres, Snell has bounced back from his early season struggles and turned into a dominant rotation arm for the team in the second half.

“[I’ll] continue to get better,” Snell said. “It’s all feeling. You all can’t feel how I feel. That’s what allows me to say things that I say and have the trust that I have, because I’ve been through this a lot in my corner, and I understand myself better than anybody.”

Here’s how Snell started and ended all three of those years with the Padres:

2021
• First 5 starts: 3.92 ERA, 31 strikeouts, 12 walks across 20 2/3 innings
• Last 7 starts: 1.83 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 11 walks across 39 1/3 innings

2022
• First 5 starts: 5.04 ERA, 29 strikeouts, 13 walks across 25 innings
• Last 7 starts: 1.76 ERA, 55 strikeouts, 13 walks across 41 innings

2023
• First 5 starts: 5.48 ERA, 26 strikeouts, 18 walks across 23 innings

In his career, Snell is 22-32 with a 4.13 ERA in the first half, and 31-15 with a 2.68 ERA in the second.

Of course, the Padres would love to see Snell get going earlier in the year. But there’s no doubt that the former Cy Young pitcher has a history of kicking into another gear towards the end of the season.

Snell is also confident that he will get back to that elite production, which would be a boon for a Padres team that has championship aspirations in 2023.

“The way that I feel, I’m really happy about that,” Snell said. “What I’ll be able to do moving forward to help this team win, especially with the ability that I have and that I trust, I’m excited for what’s to come.”