Four starting pitchers who could be close to returning from injury

A strong pitching staff makes the difference between a deep run in the postseason and a swift exit in the fall. If they get sidelined by an injury, it means a great deal when top pitchers return to the mound. 

Take Shohei Ohtani's much-anticipated return as a starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched only one inning against the San Diego Padres on Monday, displaying some rust alongside a 100.2 mph fastball, but the potential of the two-way star is undeniable. He already helped Los Angeles win a championship just as a hitter.

Here are four other pitchers who are set to return to their playoff-caliber teams.

Sean Manaea (oblique)

The New York Mets are down an ace after Kodai Senga strained his hamstring while making an out at first base and is on the 15-day injured list. The news that lefty Sean Manaea struck out four batters in his second rehab assignment must be relieving to the Mets. However, Manaea struggled in his third rehab start, giving up four runs in just 2.1 innings.

Manaea has yet to make a regular-season start after being sidelined in spring training. He re-signed with the Mets after going 12-6 and recorded a 1.084 WHIP across a career-high 181.2 innings pitched last year. If Manaea can regain that 2024 form, he'll be plugging a major hole in New York's lineup — like he did when Senga was sidelined for most of last season — and prop up the Mets' pitching depth. 

Blake Snell (shoulder)

The Dodgers barely got to see the man they gave a five-year, $182M contract to pitch for them. Snell was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA before exiting the April 2 game against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning with a shoulder injury. Now, Snell completed a bullpen session that made manager Dave Roberts confident he is closer to returning.

The Dodgers see the two-time Cy Young Award winner as a key piece to chasing a second consecutive World Series title. Snell has a career ERA of 3.18 across 213 games, and the Dodgers are hoping he can still have an excellent 2025 season, if not an elite one.

Shota Imanaga (hamstring)

Before Imanaga went down with a hamstring strain on May 4, he was proving his impressive rookie season (15-3) last year wasn't a fluke. In eight starts, he went 3-2 with a 1.097 WHIP and 34 strikeouts.

Imanaga threw four shutout innings in his last rehab assignment and might be able to return to the lineup by the end of the month. If Imanaga picks up where he left off, the Cubs will keep their October hopes high.

Tyler Glasnow (shoulder)

The Dodgers pitching staff was certainly hit with an injury bug, but that looks to be in the past now. Glasnow didn't start the season the way he wanted to after posting a 4.50 ERA across five games. He pitched well enough in a live batting practice that the team is hopeful he'll make his first rehab start soon. 

If all goes well, that would put him in line to return in early July. In his first season in Los Angeles, Glasnow earned an All-Star nod by posting a 0.948 WHIP before injuries made him miss the postseason. With Glasnow, Snell and now Ohtani all coming back, the Dodgers pitching staff could get back to being the threat the team was hoping for.